City Council moves forward with plans for improved infrastructure, new safety facility

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Stormwater and Utilities Technician Jon Odle speaks at a regular City Council meeting. 

The Sand Springs City Council held a regular meeting Monday evening and granted Mayor Mike Burdge and City Manager Elizabeth Gray authority to approve various components of the building process at the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center. Because the project has several elements going out for bid separately, the City hopes to expedite the approval of the contracts without having to go before Council each time. 

The safety facility will feature a new police station, fire station, emergency dispatch, as well as municipal courts. It will be built in the new Sheffield Crossing development on the southwest corner of the Morrow Road-Highway 97 intersection. City officials hope to break ground on the new facility in January.

Council also authorized Mayor Burdge to sign off on all documents related to the Main Street Reconstruction Project. The City has a 50-50 fund match from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Main Street will be reconstructed from 1st Street to its southern terminus. An additional stretch of Main Street will be constructed to connect it to Highway 97 and new traffic lights will be installed at the intersection. An expressway frontage road will be constructed from Main Street to the existing Lincoln Avenue on-ramp.

In other news, City Stormwater Technician Jon Odle gave a presentation regarding ongoing issues with the City stormwater system. According to Odle, the City wastes countless man hours clearing out stormwater drains from illegal dumping such as leaves and grass clippings. 

The City affirmed dilapidated public nuisance findings for properties at 2807 South Maple Drive and 918 1/2 North Franklin Avenue. Hearings were held for both properties and neither was contested. A resolution was passed authorizing the demolition of structures on both properties on or after Monday, February 5th with the expenses being the responsibility of the property owners. 

The City approved $28,725.00 for the purchase of a new 2018 Dodge Durango SSV for the police department, so that an existing unit can be used by the new Community Development Director. The existing vehicle was expected to be replaced as soon as July of 2019.

The Council approved $7,000 to purchase a Toro Stand On Sprayer. The funds were generated by maintenance fees collected from the Baseball, Soccer, and Softball programs. 

Mayor Burdge nominated Judy Treat and Michael Miller for appointments to the Sand Springs Economic Development Authority. He also nominated Vicki Sisney and Grady Whitaker for reappointment to the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum Trust Authority. All four candidates were unanimously confirmed.