Mhm.
» It's 6:00. I'm going to call this meeting to order, please. And can I ask
everybody to please silence their phone? That way we can all hear each other and
and everything. Uh Brittany, will you please do roll?
» Larry. >> Here.
» Mark. >> Here.
» Dan. Darlene.
» Here. >> Acknowledgement that the agenda was
posted outside the door of town, I know, the town hall more than 24 hours prior
to the meeting. Pledge allegiance.
Mark, would you lead us in prayer, please?
» Yes. Dearly Father Lord, I just want to thank
you for this time to come together as a city and the community to uh
take care of of the city's business, Father. Father, I just pray that you be
with us. Uh be in our minds, be in our thoughts,
and and direct us in our decisions, Father. Father, I thank you for
all that you do for us in Christ's name. Amen.
» Amen. Thank you.
Okay, number one, approval of previous regular meeting minutes as printed.
» I make a motion to approve previous regular meeting minutes as printed.
» I'll second. >> Mark made the motion, second by Larry.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> Yes.
» Public comments.
Mr. Hill, Brian Hill? Do you want to wait till
you've got agenda number three. Would you like to wait until then? Okay.
I see that all of you have put down here
different agenda items. Do you want to wait until those agenda items come up?
Is that okay with all of you? >> Mine's not related to that.
» Okay. Okay, you're special. Why don't you just
hop right up here and tell us what what makes you so special.
» I have two cats. That makes me special. >> There you go.
» So, this is directed towards anyone
applicable. PSO is wanting a $597 million rate increase to recover
increased business costs and electric infrastructure investments.
For a residential service customer, likely anybody that's a customer in this
room, this can mean an increase of around 15%
or maybe $25 a month on top of your already expensive bill.
If you're a PSO customer and you're okay with this increase, I accept cash app or
PayPal if you want to cover the increase on my electric bill.
Now, the STIS team has a form online. The entry of appearance deadline is May
18th. They put a lot of great information on the page. If you're like
me and have limited availability, you just need to fill out the first form on
the page. Took me less than a minute. I have
I hope to have a video made by tomorrow showing how.
If you have more time and want to present evidence or cross-examine
witnesses on the June 29th meeting, you will need to fill out the second form on
the page in addition to the first. Whether or not you don't do the second
form, you can attend the meetings via Zoom. Dates and info are at the bottom
of the page that has the forms. And if you want to If you do the second
form to present evidence or cross-examine, you will need to attend
in person. Um that's the only thing I had on that,
and I'm aware you guys can't really answer, so maybe somebody in the crowd
can. I've seen some stuff circulating on
Facebook recently about a possible data center.
Where would I be able to find information on that? Would that be a
city and zoning?
Okay. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Okay, so if everybody else wants to wait until uh we come up to your agenda item,
we'll go ahead and and go on. Number three, discussion, consideration, and
possible action to create the Innova Community Accounta-
-bility Review and Engagement I CARE Committee.
» You're up. You're up.
» I'm sorry. Brian. I'm sorry. >> Good evening. Um I'll try to make this
quick here. So, the I CARE um objective is to
establish a community advisory committee that serves to as a conduit
between Innova City Council and the citizens regarding questions, concerns,
potential mitigation strategy related to the local industrial operation. The
committee's primary goal is to gather community input and present the city
council with data-driven, balanced, and actual proposal to address citizens'
concern. This is the structure.
Um the I-Care Committee will consist of a small focus group of volunteers to
ensure efficiency and balance of perspectives. The I-Care Committee will
be composed of the following: Council Liaison, one non-voting council member
designated to facilitate communication. Five community members,
the voting members of this committee shall consist of five residents within
the Ione School District with varied backgrounds.
Members shall collectively reflect a broad diversity of the
community bringing ranges of perspectives,
lived experiences, and areas of knowledge, and other characteristics
that contribute to a well-rounded representation of the community.
Certain disclosures, particularly those related to project-specific interests,
may be vested revisited on a case-by-case basis
as new topics arise. The selection. Each trustee shall appoint one committee
member based on the criteria listed here. Individuals selected to serve
should demonstrate a genuine interest in the community issues and a willingness
to actively participate in the community's work.
Members are expected to be reliable, prepared, and able to commit the time
necessary to engage in meetings and review materials.
Participation.
Committee members are expected to communicate
clearly, listen thoughtfully, and engage in respectful dialogue. Members should
be open to differing viewpoints and capable of discussing complex or
controversial topics in a constructive, solution-oriented manner. I'm going to
kind of bounce around here. Scope and responsibilities.
The eye care committee is formed in
the ability to information gather, collect, and organize questions,
concerns, and suggestions from the local citizens regarding local industrial
projects. Research and analysis. Research existing public information,
regulations, and the best practices related to similar industrial
operations, focusing on environmental, health, and economic aspects of the
social impacts to the community. Propose and generate develop and present
actionable proposal to the city council to address
key citizens questions and concerns. Proposals must include potential pros
and cons and resources required. Reporting.
Provide regular per meeting written reports to the city council to document
community concerns.
» Thank you so much. And we do have a copy of all of this that you
» was reading off of. So, if anybody
wants a copy of that, we have it. Okay?
Um >> Since he's presenting on this, can he
have more time? >> You know, I'm willing to do that.
» Yeah. >> Would you like to go ahead
» Right. You want to go ahead and finish? >> Since you're presenting on this, you are
presenter. Okay. >> Yeah, I'm willing to do that.
» Is it good? >> Okay. Let's do that.
» Oh, let's see here. Reporting. Um
reports should be presented in a range of perspective, highlight supporting
data and sources, and clearly identify the associated risks, benefits, and
uncertainties. Community engagement. Hold periodic ad-
adverse advertised public forums to gather input, ensuring a direct res-
presentation of community views. Maintain a public city email address
linked to the community the committee's members for soliciting community input.
Meetings. Frequency. monthly scheduled meetings, transparency, all meetings
will be open to the public following the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act requirement.
Here's some of the key deliverables. Citizens inquiry, organize
summary of citizens questions and concerns.
Committee evaluation, standardize matrix for evaluating risk and magnitude of the
community's concerns and three primary areas of
environmental, health, and economic impacts.
Includes cited research and committee decisions.
City Council proposals, tracker for the status of the City Council proposals
including draft presentation and resulting action.
Metrics of success, Council action, the number of I-Care
presented proposals formally considered or acted upon
by the City Council. Community satisfaction, reduction in the
number of industrial project inquiries directed to the City Council. We'll go
down here by here. Indicating the committee is effectively
managing information flow. Record keeping, provide written record of
neutral fact-based evaluation for public concerns to support City Council
actions.
Citizens inquiry, categorize record of citizen inputs, questions, and concerns.
Public facing FAQ categorize issues and logs.
Intended success, improved transparency, clear, concise record of community
priorities.
Committee evaluation, standardize matrix for neutral fact-based risk and
magnitude evaluation of projects that may potentially have an impact on, but
not limited to, environmental, health, social, and economic aspects with the
community. Data backed by cited sources of research and comparative analysis.
So, that's kind of the highlights of it. So, what we're basically, you know,
presenting is that each one of the house members would be able to select
a committee member that would gather the information from the citizens, prepare
create a report and bring to you with solutions and ideas to help mitigate
some of the problems that we've had in the the past few months. So,
that's kind of it. It is available on our website as well. And I do thank you.
» Thank you, Mr. Hill, for this presentation. Thank you. Um Beth,
did you have something you wanted to
» Okay, so to add to what Brian said because I helped him write it.
Um And then I also got to bounce into
number four about the steering committee cuz they're obviously related. And I
heard what Thomas said at the last meeting. I called him. I was like, "What
are you talking about?" We He explained it to me. I'm like, "And I told him that
I think it's great. It's great." I have reservations on a couple of things
specifically about it because I think what this I care committee can do is a
little is happy medium. So,
I think it's goals and its success metrics, as he stated, are going to be
able to speak to all the perspectives of the community concerns. And it doesn't
knock out whether it's Tulsa Port Authority or Sofidel or any other
company that comes in and there's concern, those outside perspectives are
still going to be heard because this committee is going to be subject to the
open meetings act. It's going to be
have minutes. Everybody knows what's going on. They can attend, we can ask
questions, invite them in for their perspective. So, I think it's a happy
medium in that aspect. Um, but one of my worries with this
advisory committee already is that if we're going to have enough people
that can be credible, do the research, take the time, and
be reliable, and and be unbiased in argument to bring facts and not their
personal their personal bias, right? Finding those already, I think it's
going to be difficult to to maintain. So,
um it's important to understand what that
steering committee idea does, that they can organize the process, um identify
the qualified participants, create the structure,
um and be productive and balanced, and most importantly,
keep it credible, right? Because it's going to have all the the different
entities, if you will, not just community members, but
ultimately, the town is the entity that's responsible for appointing the
committee. The town's insurance language defines an
employee that would cover this advisory committee as
broadly to include persons authorized to act on behalf of the town, including
appointed officers, members of governing bodies, and other persons
designated to act for the named insured, which is the town.
So, if we bring in, whether it's I'm going to use Sofidel or Toll Brothers,
right? Cuz they're existing. We bring them in and they're part of the
committee, who who can who can actually clearly define that that industrial
developer owner is acting on behalf of the town?
Um and I can give you an example, cuz my mind it works uh it works in worst-case
scenario and risk. So, just throw out whatever that worst-case scenario is
whenever you're talking about liability. Um
I think the I care that committee approach still achieves the goals of
transparency uh for the community representation and does not knock out
any of those additional people. Okay.
» I've got a question for you. So, you were talking about
with the Sofidel or the uh with the port. Are you talking about in the
steering committee or on the I care? >> In the steering committee.
» Okay. Okay. >> The the the advisory committee because
then it's uh >> Well, it from
» appointing somebody. So, then how does that work as far as the definition of
who's covered under the town liability in that worst case worst case scenario?
» Well, under that the care uh committee, I don't think we would have somebody
from Sofidel or from uh the port. That would be under the steering committee.
» Right. Right. >> that would that would be completely
different in that aspect. >> Okay.
» I don't think I think and I'm speaking myself. I I wouldn't want somebody. I
would want actual just citizens uh living here uh in the the I care
committee and then in the steering committee then have people representing
the businesses and things like that cuz they can give, you know, different
perspectives on that. But in the I care, I really feel strong about, you know,
citizens like you guys being on that. And I see Tom agrees with me here.
» All right. So, maybe So, uh Well, I was going to say kind of it they
they Yeah. It's it's discussion of that that
I worry about with the steering committee, right? Where I'm going
Okay. They choose him to be this on the
steering committee to appoint somebody to speak to the advisory committee,
right? >> Well, and that's so I think that's not
really what I'm That's not really the purpose of the
steering committee. >> Okay.
» Why don't Why don't you let me go on? Yeah. Let me go ahead and read number
four and then let's let's go from there. Thomas, if you don't mind.
Uh discussion, consideration, and action to adopt resolution 2026-09,
appointing a steering committee to develop and recommend founding
documents establishing a committee advisory
a community advisory committee to provide independent review and input
related to did it to industrial and community
commercial development. I'm so sorry. Okay. Now, Thomas, would you mind?
» So, my first question is on that. Um is the resolution the same that I had
seen previously? Basically, can you summarize that for everybody?
» Uh yes, it's it's provides for steering committee
uh as drafted, would have seven members,
one designated by the board, one by I know schools, one by the town, and four
by the from the community appointed by the
And then your job would be develop something like that here. The way I see
it. >> Yes.
» Now, what what direction it goes, I think
that would be up to the steering committee.
So, I don't envision there being a steering committee that lasts forever.
I envision the steering committee, as you and I discussed, being the creator
of governing documents. And then they would finish their job. And then we
would have whatever committee we all agree with that would be the two
committees. >> Yeah.
Well, and I I guess so, and I apologize, this may have been on me explaining it
poorly last time. So, in my mind, exactly what Thomas is saying, the
steering committee is a very very temporary organization. It is not
designed to appoint the council or the the CAC, the advisory board that follows
it. Its only goal is to get all the stakeholders in one room, which the port
is a critical part of that um as far as the stakeholders go, cuz obviously
they're the owner of the industrial park. Um so, they have to be a
stakeholder for input. Um the the the businesses in that industrial park also
have to be input into the steering committee. That is not to say that the
port would get to choose that Andrew would get to vote I throw him out there
again that Andrew would get to vote on who from the community
is on the advisory board. It's only purpose is to develop the actual
documents like what you did which is the I care and say hey these are our goals
as the advisory board. Our goals are to reduce citizen complaints. Our goals are
develop a safety plan that incorporates the community and the county and
everybody involved. You know, that steering committee just makes those
initial documents and they make the eligibility. So they might say okay hey
we want varied background. We want at least two people that have a knowledge
of public safety and fire and health. We want one person that has an engineering
background. We want one person that has a finance or a business in the area. Um,
the steering committee just makes those kind of broad guidelines to then say
okay however we however the steering committee comes up with a metric to
elect or ask for people to participate on the advisory board kind of like you
guys were mentioning that's separate. That's separate from the steering
committee. It's not directed by that first steering committee. It's just to
get everybody in the same room so we can actually talk about how the advisory
board needs to look. And I think the I care is a great is a great starting
point to say hey this is kind of what the community wants. How does that play
into what the town wants? How does that play into what the port wants? How does
that play into the broader stakeholders that aren't just the citizens. But I I
agree the final advisory committee typically those members are community
members. There will always be a industrial representative who is like a
liaison or non-voting however you want to phrase it. But you need their input,
right? So if we had this committee and the aluminum smelter was not part of the
committee at all then you wouldn't have any information to report on and act on,
right? You would just be getting citizen information and it would kind of just be
a complaint sport. So, you have to have involvement from the stakeholder company
in order to actually have an actionable committee, right? Because you can say,
"Hey, the citizens have noticed an increase in truck traffic this last
couple months." And the company can come up and come back and say, "Yeah, we have
a turnaround, so we had twice as many trucks for the next month and then it'll
go back to normal." And you can hold them accountable to that by saying,
"Hey, after that 2 months you told us about,
we're still seeing more trucks. What's going on?" And that is part of the open
minutes, open meetings act and it would all be recorded under the final advisory
committee. So, I apologize. We really have to break those two committees
apart, but the steering committee is not a long-lasting, not a permanent
organization. It's just a "What do we want this to actually look
like? Let's get" And I And I actually If seven's too many, I think five from the
community, like you're saying, each one of you point one and then a port and
somebody else, I I think that's wonderful. I don't The numbers I'm
definitely open to interpretation on it. I think if the
resolution passes with seven, fine. Um
I think that no matter what, if you get citizens from the community, the port,
the town in one room to say, "How do we want to better protect
everybody?" And it helps the port and it helps the town. And like you're saying,
from liability, that the future committee can help mitigate a lot of
that liability, right? It's not going to be the port
appointing somebody to protect the city. It's not the purpose of the
uh of the steering committee. So, I hopefully clarified a little bit.
Questions? Comments? Anybody? >> Does anybody have any comments or
questions about this? >> I have a question.
What What is the timeline that we're talking about? And I know initially when
we were talking about putting this committee together,
it was to address a lot of the concerns that we have as you guys begin to
negotiate the development agreement. Getting some protections in place for
the public, for the community, right? And so, I'm just curious, like if we
have to have a steering committee before we can go forward, like we need to get
to work talking about how do we get those protections negotiated in that
development agreement? Does that make sense?
» Mhm. >> Is that clear?
» Mhm. I would say personally, I don't see the
steering committee as related to that. It would have to That would be a
separate committee. That would be like you're going to make a steering
committee to enact this advisory count The advisory council's reactionary. It's
down the road, right? It's hey, for the port industrial complex, we want this
citizens advisory council for everything moving forward. You can't really make an
advisory council to say, you know, go retroactively back to the
start of the project and say, "Hey, we want to fix this thing." You can't do
that with this type of council. Um so, that'd be a different type of committees
that the city would have to say we want an advisory committee on something else
that's not not what I'm talking about. So, that would be separate.
» So, that is what was envisioned with the I Care Committee.
That was the genesis of that.
That we want to put a committee together that can take all of the suggestions
that we've heard here at City Council meetings talking about how do we protect
our land? How do we get monitoring? How do
we ensure that these things are built into the development agreement? That's
why we came up with the idea, let's get a
citizens committee together that can hash all that out and then bring to you,
the City Council and the City Manager, ideas, like concrete things that you can
say, "Yes, let's do that." I'm assuming, and I may be wrong, that that
development agreement has not yet been negotiated.
And so, this is where we have some urgency. We want this community
together. We want to talk about all the things that have been brought up here,
the concerns citizens have. Um you know, prior to prior industrial
park, they went forward and it was 2 years ago that legislation was proposed
because they had a huge shortfall in what to do with the hazardous waste and
fire suppression there. And they went to the state and asked for
millions of dollars to try to do that. What my idea is what what we've been
talking about is let's get in on the front end.
Let's build those things into the the development agreement so that we're not
looking back and going, "Oh, there's holes that now, like Thomas said, it's
too late for us to fix." We want to citizens community hash out
these ideas, come up with ideas. We have no power other than to bring
those ideas to you. You have all the power. You appoint the
committee members, hopefully taking into consideration the criteria that you've
established. But you you appoint the committee
members. The committee works together. They come back with their
recommendations to you. And then it's up to you whether or not you act on them.
That is my main vision with I Care. I don't know that the the steering
committee is I don't see how that fits into what
we're talking about. Does that make sense? Do you have any
questions about that? >> I understand what you're saying. Do you
agree with >> I would fully agree that that is not
that is not what the steering committee or the the future advisory board would
be. So, if that's if that's what you're seeking, that's not what I'm proposing.
Uh my mine would definitely have community input for any future projects.
And you'd have that I mean, you'd already have the committee and you'd
have the relation with the port. So, a future project would see something that
you could do that up front. Um but it's not something that this committee would
say, "Okay, retroactively you can go back." And I
personally I think that's a little cautious to say we're going to reach
back retroactively to form a committee to study something.
Um so, I I I think it's a different thing. I don't know what it would be. It
would be a I don't know, a city legislative
regulation regulatory advisory committee or something.
It can be I Yeah, I care. Um so, it's uh anything like that, but it would
definitely be separate from what what I proposed.
» Does anybody else have anything you'd like to say on this matter?
» I would just tag on and say based on what Thomas has represented, I think
this is completely separate. I would urge the commission to
or the council tonight to approve the I care so that we can move forward.
I'm not sure how his steering committee thing works in
with this, but I would uh respectfully request that you
approve the I care
» I think I think I think they can be completely independent. I don't think
it's Yeah, one or the other.
» So, I I I agree. When we had the first discussion, I
provided you with uh
copies of something Oklahoma City did. That was with the police department, but
it was an arm and agency of the town. >> Mhm.
» Um truly working under the direction of the
town, not the old direction, but appointed by the council of the town.
And so, what Thomas is talking about, he shared a lot of those documents with me.
It is a little bit of a different creature. So, and it sounds like that's
probably less pressing >> Mhm.
» than the I care. Um
I now I have a I have a problem with appointing a steering committee because
if you appoint a steering committee for that, they can take as much time as they
want >> Mhm.
» to develop that concept down the road. But if you want to get the I care
created being different, I I see no
problem with that. I agree there's really a good distinction with what
they're describing. Yeah. I think if you could approve tonight, I
would like to put that in the resolution maybe on the
next agenda. We still approve the concept tonight.
Maybe fine tune the document and have it approved some of the concepts we talked
about with insurance if it's going to be We reached out to Omac to make sure
that they would be covered. Right. And what what is an employee? So if they're
within that parameter, they would be a true
advisory board with independence from the board of selectmen.
So, what you're saying is that we need to
make a motion to uh uh
» Create a resolution for the I care committee.
» Yes. >> Yeah.
» Yes. Uh yes, Tommy. Yes. >> Yes.
» Uh I'll make a motion to create a resolution to create the I care
committee for the town of Aynor. >> Okay, I'll second that.
Mark made the motion, second by Darlene. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Now we're going to go back to number
four and where we're going to adopt a resolution
2026-09
and Mark, would you like to make a motion on that?
» make a motion to adopt resolution 2026-09
for appointing a steering committee and development
and recommending funding documents establishing a community
advisory committee. >> I'll second that.
Mark made the motion, second by Darlene. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Thank you.
Okay. Town administrator update.
» Inside your packets today, there was a legal-size sheet of ARPA.
I wanted to cover that with you and give you an update on where we're at on all
the ARPA money that we've had for the last year and a half or so.
And tell you what we're thinking about for the remaining portion of that.
In total, the town was awarded about 11 and a half
million dollars. And you can see the contracts that we
have signed to execute on our sewer lines,
as well as the sewer plant and the lift station at Green Valley.
Uh those projects are nearing completion. There's one change order
left to probably go through for Circle B, but
at the moment under the current contracts, there's about $820,000 left.
We have met Dwayne, James Kilpatrick, myself,
the port, as well as um Carrie Gestir went through the
numbers. We all verified that we're on the right numbers.
We have given you in the remaining items box in the bottom right corner
items that we are looking at. First of all, the Circle B change order is
something we basically have to do in order to finish up stuff at the sewer
plant. The other four items below that are the
projects that we deemed to be sewer-related projects that we all can
sign off on that fit within the scope of the ARPA money that we were awarded.
And so, we're going to be bringing or doing moving forward with existing
contracts on those, but I did want you all to know about them.
If you have any issues, let me know, but that will basically spend the rest of
our remaining money. Uh and we have to get this done because
the ARPA money starts closing out in September.
So, we will
move forward with those items unless you all have some input on
something else you would like for us to look at.
» Gentlemen, do you all have any questions on this?
» No. >> You good?
» Any questions? >> No, Scott and I went over with
» Okay. >> We talked and I think we got it within
20,000. >> We're within 40,000 of spending the
whole 11 and 1/2 million dollars, so >> Okay.
» that's pretty good. We don't know that some of those estimates that we've
written down are are high or low yet, so don't want to get too close, especially
it could trigger some extra financial impact on us if we trip some levels that
we don't want to do. I'll move on to my other items.
Uh, Horseshoe is finishing up sewer lines in the in the town. They're all
pulled now. Uh, so all the red clay tile has now
been replaced. They still have about 2 to 3 weeks worth
of work doing asphalt repairs, um,
going in and finding sinking spots in the places that they've dug for sewer
taps, putting down some sod. Uh, they also have about a dozen
manholes left to reseal. So, those all be taking place. So,
within the next 2 to 3 weeks they're pretty much pulling out uh, as complete.
» Are they going to be uh, replacing the the asphalt in the the
roads and uh, parking lots? >> They're supposed to be going back and
redoing those segments cuz some of them have settled and that kind of thing, so
there's been a lot of issues related to that. I know I will on behalf of the
contractor argue a little bit that they've needed some rain to settle it
in. We've had those rains now, so a lot of that compaction has taken place. So,
now they can come in and finish tidying up. There's probably still some fences
to be fixed. >> Right.
» Uh, so but if you've got items that aren't getting done, let them know and
we'll make sure and get it on their list.
Okay. The hail storm Friday night, we had
seven at least seven vehicles damaged. We'll be looking to talk to OMAG about
those. Um
2 Mile Road, I think guardrails got put up on the
creek crossing there. I think those I haven't been down there
to look today, but they were supposed to be put up. I don't know if end of last
week or today. We have additional signage being put
together for 2 Mile Road.
The striping of that is supposed to take place on the 18th.
We do have a little bit of extra money left over from paving of 2 Mile.
I have talked to OMAG or excuse me, INCOG about that. Um and they have
verbally said and I have to write them a letter to allow us to use that remaining
money to buy some concrete culverts. Um some of which we did right there at
at Heather Road, but also I have estimated right now that we need
about another $20,000 worth of or $15,000 worth of
concrete culverts that will work out here in front of our property for the
new fire station and the new library. So, that's going to get
that bought and we can set that on the side and we have it ready.
The uh governmentdeals.com is supposed to be
on the 26th to get all their pictures taken to get our stuff put online.
587 Road, the county is getting ready to pave it. We talked about that a month or
two ago. We put some money towards that project. They're actually, I think up in
Carpenter addition right now doing some uh spot repairs uh related to some stuff
we funded uh few weeks ago. The Green Valley lift station, we
finally got the power turned on to the new lift station late last week.
Uh anticipating that we'll be flipping over to the new lift station here in the
next few days and be able to shut down and demo the
old one. We've also
have spent a lot of time on storm sirens. Um
as of today, the storm siren guys are saying
our sirens are quite old and they need to be replaced, which is could be a
million dollars. Um
up towards that, but right now we're going to go ahead and move forward with
repairs on those and that's going to be about another $6,000.
Um and let it go as long as it will go and we'll try to look for grants and
other things for that type of repair. That's my update.
» Thank you, Scott.
Okay. Number six, discussion, consideration, and possible action to
seek bids for harvesting hay on town's property located on 4210 Road south of
Heather Road. >> I'd like to go ahead and move forward
with publicizing that for uh the hay to be sold, so
» We do that every year. >> We do it every year.
» Yes. Yes. >> I'll make a motion to uh seek bids for
harvesting hay on the city's property south of uh
42 uh located on 4210 south of Heather
Road. >> Yes. I'll second.
» We're going to put time on
» I would like to have the bids in here by the time we meet next time.
» Yes. >> So,
before 6:00 on the 26th
» Yeah, 6:00 before the meeting starts.
» Yes. >> Yes, that's
I >> How do we want to publish that?
» The only way to publish it is on our >> website as well as potentially out on
our sign and then we can do the Clay County Leader paper. That's the only
ways we can do it right now. >> Yeah, I'll say
» I Yeah. >> website, on the sign, and Clay County
Leader Progress. >> That would be our anticipation.
» Yeah. >> Agreed.
I'll second the motion to have that done.
» Mark made the motion, second by Darlene. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Um discussion, consideration, and
possible action to approve interlocal local agreement with Rogers County for
South Adele plan and permit review. >> You have in front of you an interlocal
agreement that uh has been very similar to what we've had in the past with the
county and at that point in time it included the port.
We have taken the port out of this agreement uh and kind of streamlined it
to the way the work is taking place between the county
and the town as we've taken over some of the responsibilities.
Uh and this agreement will allow us to be able to handle
the permitting process as well as the inspections and making sure what's
clarified between us. Uh and it lasts through the current
South Adele expansion.
» Tommy, you've uh gone all through this, I think. Okay.
» Okay. And it looks fine. Good. Okay.
» Yeah. >> Okay.
Um I'm going to make a motion to approve the interlocal local agreement with
Rogers County for the South Adele plan and permit review.
» I'll second.
» Darlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Number eight, discussion, consideration,
and possible action to hold a public hearing on application number 2025-1217
of owners of record, Skipper and Julie Lewis, to change zoning from SFR to IL
for following property. All of blocks 1, 12, and 18 of South of
I know it in addition to the town of I know it's Rogers County, Oklahoma
according to the recorded thereof. And um
I'm going to make a motion that we open that public hearing at this time.
» I'll second that.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. >> Okay.
Um I do have it down here that
Chris, I believe you were down that you wanted to make
a comment on this.
» Thank you. Um so I want to talk about how this matter came before you tonight
and I want to be clear. My comments pertain to the process.
I am not making any claims about Mr. James Shafer's character as I understand
he's highly regarded. Um this item is before was before the planning and
zoning on March the 31st. On the agenda was also a question of whether Mr. James
Shafer, the chair of planning and zoning should recuse himself from voting on the
item given the fact that the request was made by a person that he works with
in a real estate office that is owned by his father-in-law and where his wife
also works. And so to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the right
thing for Mr. Shafer to do would have been to voluntarily recuse himself from
discussion or vote. Instead, he defended his ability to participate in the vote
claiming he had no financial interest in the matter.
While he was present, public concerns were expressed about the obvious
conflict of interest to which a number of community members stood up to defend
him as being above reproach. After Mr. Shafer excused himself from the room, it
was up to the four remaining members to decide whether he should be recused.
Instead of discussing the importance of government operating in a manner that is
above reproach and avoid voiding even the appearance of bias or favoritism or
influence trading in how this city does business,
all the comments were about his character.
There was a circling of the wagons around Mr. Shafer that completely missed
the point. The legitimacy of the process is called
into question and public trust is broken when these kinds of conflicts of
interest exist and are permitted. And it is up to you, City Council, and every
member of a public board of this city to protect the integrity of our
processes so that the public has confidence that the decisions you make
are in the best interest of the town and not in your personal interests or the
interests of your family or friends. So, the impression created by the
discussion was that any vote by the commission member to recuse Mr. Shafer
would have somehow been a vote of no confidence on his character, which was
not what the point was. Three of the four members voted that he
did not need to recuse himself. After that vote, Mr. Shafer returned to
this chamber chamber and he was the primary speaker in favor of the zoning
change. Even when the commission was presented with public comments pointing
out how this rezoning is inconsistent with Enola's 2025 comprehensive plan,
his conclusion was that from his perspective this rezoning works and he
voted in favor of it. I am respectfully requesting that this
council send this matter back to planning and zoning for reconsideration
and please direct Mr. James Shafer to recuse himself from any decision
involving planning and zoning requests from agents
that he works with. Okay. Thank you.
Anybody else?
Mr. Wase?
Go ahead. >> Um
So, this property was for sale uh and I did go to the
planning and zoning board and looked at the future use
which was light industrial. That's one reason I pursued it.
Uh at the real estate office, we do get people
for instance, want to put in storage units or want to park equipment.
Um both of those zonings would take light industrial according to
our rules. So, if you look in town, there's
equipment parked that is not in
the correct area. What we are wanting to do
is do it correctly. Um
I don't need
the light industrial if if it if the storage units weren't light industrial
or parking equipment was light industrial. You see what I'm saying? I'm
following your guys's recommendations if that makes sense. The future use that
I seen on there was light industrial and for me to put storage units in or the
other or park equipment, which I'm saying a dump truck, a trailer
a skid steer in town. Uh electrician wants to have
his shop there. You know what I'm saying? You also got to understand where
this property is located. You have the railroad track right beside.
You have a cell tower and then you have the lagoons. I don't think it is a
proper place uh for somebody to want to build a
house. I've not had anybody come to me and want to build a house
right there by the railroad tracks. So, to me it makes sense
uh you know, looking at what you guys the future uh
plans was uh light industrial. So, that's one
reason that we purchased it and wanted to change the zoning of it to
do something with the property besides let it sit there.
There's two old storage contest boxes and a bunch of stuff that we've cleaned
up. That we've done a lot of stuff to it.
And a lot of the dirt over there, I know people have complained about. We're
putting it over in the filling up the lagoons.
» Mhm. >> And we talked about that in the planning
and zoning uh
meeting last time. A lot of that dirt, I don't know exactly how much it is. We're
supposed to get a square footage on it. That dirt is going to fill three of the
lagoons over there. So, we kind of killed two birds with one
stone, too. And we did get a dirt permit, which I'm sure
might be a little excessive, but that's all I got. I mean, if you guys
have any questions for me or >> Thank you, Mr. Weese.
James, do you have any comments on this?
Gentlemen? >> So, the the property that Duncan Cabinet
has there, what is that zoned as? >> He has some residential.
I think that's how his home >> They have a commercial business.
» I would have him >> I know there's a house in front of it up
there, but then they you know, it's a commercial business that they it's at
the backside of it there. What is the property where TDS is
parking their trucks on the opposite side of the tracks? What is it zoned as?
» TDS is a utility. >> Okay.
» Right here right now. >> Yeah.
» Is a utility. >> Yeah.
» So, and the same would be with the uh sailor antenna.
» So, it it's zoned as utility or is it zoned like
» I I would have to look at the map. I can
tell you that the property that Mr. and Mrs. Weese bought
» Yeah. >> falls under the Lewis 6
or uh property use not in the zoning code
but in the comprehensive plan, which is a recommendation.
Now, when you look at Louis 6, it talks about commercial,
which is allowable, and light industrial, which is possible.
» Yeah. >> Okay?
The question that I uh presented uh
to the planning and zoning committee was
what type of commercial entity would want to be next
to the railroad track and next door, in essence, to five
lagoons. It didn't make sense.
One of the things uh to understand is that the
comprehensive plan is a guide. It was a guide that was put together in
2019. We do not have a major corridor that
runs by that property that Louis 6 typically indicates would be a
commercial property with everything around it. It seemed to me that it fits
within the criteria. I will speak this one thing
about the uh issue of whether I should have
recused myself or not. When you look at the rezoning
criteria, we have to meet. We need to If we say no, we need to be
able to say to the owners, "We said no because
of a reason." The um the majority of the planning and zoning
committee members felt that uh it met the criteria. We had one who didn't vote
no or yes, and chose to abstain, and it was passed.
I didn't see again while I work for my father-in-law
while my brother-in-law is um contracted as the city attorney
I did not have I don't own part of the financial I don't own part of the real
estate company. I am a
contracted laborer.
I didn't have the property listed. I didn't sell it on on the on behalf of
I represent Mr. Weast when he purchased it.
That was a a file that he put together. There was
another agency that had the property listed. He brought
himself and his wife as a buyer as a licensed agent.
Commission went to them. The commission went to the office. I don't receive part
of another agent's commission.
I will remind council that when ELDAR came before
uh planning and zoning because I was a member of ELDAR
I did recuse myself
because I sat on that committee and for me to make a vote for ELDAR I felt would
not be appropriate as I had sat on the committee to make a decision to present
to that board.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Thank Anybody else have any
comments or anything you want to discuss about I'm sorry. Anybody else have
anything you want to discuss about this miss uh
in this public hearing before we close it.
Yes. >> Obviously, I've done research. This is
the first I've heard about any of this. I feel like James and what what's
didn't really address Chris's concern. Chris's concern to me was interpreted
more as concerns about like the ethics of the zoning board or corruption.
Not about what it was presented as the way it was presented to you guys.
I think these people are the ones that are trying to bring it
out to our community, guys. But, there is a clear conflict of
interest in this situation, and that's all I'd like to add to that at
this point. appropriately by the gentleman.
» Okay. Thank you. Gentlemen?
» I'm good. >> Okay.
Okay. Yes.
» How How does the city currently handle reviewing or auditing
» The zoning ordinance itself has a procedure
which I think what I heard described is followed.
The zoning ordinance says it can be brought up in the board
and essence makes the decision. >> So, the board audits itself to determine
whether the conflict of interest was okay or not.
» Yes, that's correct. >> But, there's no So, the member of the
board first makes the determination should I should I not
withdraw or presents it to the board. I don't have that
» I don't think but Sorry, I have to apologize. The board is
the zoning committee itself decides whether the conflict of interest
is okay. >> That's correct. And I don't recall if
there's an appeal procedure. >> So, I have That's That was my question.
Is there any appeal to this council to say, "Hey, the citizen said
I think that decision Is there any other oversight to that decision made or is it
just the committee decides >> I don't recall. My memory of it in that
ordinance versus specifically I don't recall.
» Yeah, I don't recall.
» I don't >> And again, his his board is is again
like a an advisory board. His his is not the final decision. It's our
to make the final decision on it. It's just them making the recommendation to
approve look at it, make sure it follows the
criteria, and then make the recommendation to us to either change
the zoning or not >> change the zoning.
» So technically speaking, the appeal would be
when it comes to you with the recommendation if the council's interest
was discussed the council member from the community would be your
responsibility to say, "Hey, we know you guys said that was an acceptable
conflict of interest, but we don't feel that that was the right
decision." It's kind >> Yeah, if we
» Yes. >> Yeah, so there
state law requires an initial hearing. And then an appeal. Our ordinance is
actually more extensive, and it's always a recommendation.
Final decision is here. Um we actually this is a separate public
hearing, which our ordinance requires. And so, as Mark said, the decision's
going to be made tonight. The recommendation
is is relevant, carries some weight, but it's entirely your decision.
So, they do have those options to approve, deny, send it back, all those
things. So, effectively, yes, it's comes before them for final decision.
» So, then the the mechanism is they could say to the council that they don't say,
"I don't think this is right." And it's up to you guys
» Yeah, they they could they could say they agree, send it back
for another recommendation, then it comes back for another public hearing.
If they were to send it back, then the outcome would be that you guys Yeah.
Thank you. >> Anybody else?
Okay. Uh discussion, consideration, and
possible action to close the public hearing. I I'll that we close the public
hearing at this time. >> I'll second it.
» Motion made by Darlene, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Number 10, discussion, consideration,
and possible action on application number 2025-1217
of owners of record, Skipper and Julia Wase, to change zoning from SFR to IL
for following property, all of the blocks of 1, 12, and 18 of South Iola in
addition to the town of Iola's Rogers County, Oklahoma, according to the
record thereof. Gentlemen?
Yes, sir.
Okay. Okay.
Mhm.
If you have concerns about any of those then
you would either send it back for further study
or you could deny it. If you don't have any, then you can
approve it. And obviously, you can discuss the issues related to the
conflict. >> Mhm.
What do you think, gentlemen? >> Well, I see the property. It's It's up
against the railroad tracks. So, that's on one side. On the opposite side of the
railroad tracks is Hillary's parking lot for their equipment over there. A cell
tower. >> Mhm.
» And then on the opposite side is >> The lagoons.
» the cabinet company. I know their grandmother's old house is in front of
the cabinet company, but the cabinet shop is there. And then you have the
lagoons there. So, it's not residential
you know, area right there. >> Mhm.
» Um On the opposite side of the road there is the railroad property. And then
Ken Frose's where his old uh silos and and everything where he used to
uh you know, bale hay and sell hay out of. So,
um is that zoned as commercial or how is that
property there zoned as? >> I have no idea on that either.
A lot of that, you know, the issues that we have, and I know a lot of that
existed before we had zoning. >> Exactly. Exactly. But
that right there in front of that property is the railroad, you know, uh
property. So, that is not going to ever be residential. So, it's going to be
» Mhm. >> uh commercial property. So, I feel that
it falls right along in with the the zoning that's all around it right
there. >> Yes.
Larry? >> Well, also had a cabinet shop.
It's not Mr. Mitzger
He had a cabinet shop right next to Hillary.
» Yeah. Okay.
» So, I see no problem.
» Okay. Okay.
» I'll make a motion to approve item number 10
to be rezoned as IL. >> I'm going to second that motion.
Mark made the motion, second by Darlene. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Number 11, discussion, consideration,
and possible action to adopt resolution 2026-07,
a joint resolution of the town of Iola and Iola Public Works Authority updating
procedures and fees related to responsing
uh to open records respo- uh yeah, to open
records request. I'm sorry.
Scott?
My nose is so dry.
» In review of our open meetings documentation that we have is
got some date to it. Um we have chosen to go ahead and update
our policies. We've recommended to you what the attorney general, as well as
OMAG and OML, have both uh stated as a format that should be
considered. And that's what we've put in front of you in this resolution.
You will find also in the back of the resolution
as exhibit A,
the format that we will move to for
requests. And they will, if you approve, we will put those online immediately uh
along with the fees that have been deemed to be appropriately uh
appropriate for covering our costs.
» Okay.
» This is one thing that they covered when we went through the training over in
Tulsa.
I think we were a little on the behind. Yes.
» Yeah. >> Most definitely.
» Yeah.
Okay. Tell me, did you go over this?
» Uh yes, I did.
» Right. >> But because we don't have a town clerk
uh I mean clearly but also has as well town administrator
to uh
And then we we proposed to update
forms
uh There's a reference that I added
discretionary exemptions and followed what Tulsa
did with the guidelines request recently that dealt with
personnel files and a lot of that's confidential parts
of it that says it's up to board to determine
whether it should be confidential or not.
And so, when we first approached that, we said
the presumption is that it's confidential when we talked about those
discretionary decisions like someone's personnel file.
Again, there are some things that you have to
hire, pay,
terminate, discipline, final discipline. Those things are public record.
But there are other things that are not. So, again, so I I helped put this
together following the guidance of Tulsa
and some other cities like Kingfisher.
» Okay. Um
Amy, I see that you're down here that you want to
uh you have a comment on this.
» So, my comments to the resolution are as follows. First paragraph regarding
record search. The act states a public body may charge
a fee only for recovery of the reasonable direct costs of record
copying or mechanical reproduction. With regards to record search, this could
depend on the organizational method of the public body and the requirement to
engage with the requestor to seek the information as needed. Therefore, I
request request the words record search be deleted here.
Section two states the town administrator is authorized to modify
the form with the approval of the town attorney or Board of Trustees.
This should be modified to state town attorney or excuse me, town attorney and
Board of Trustees. The people have a right to be informed of any changes via
a town council agenda item. Section two states exhibit A shall be
used to determine whether the request is expected to cause excessive disruption
of the essential functions of the town or PWA.
If it is decided that excessive disruption is anticipated, the document
should be modified to require the town or PWA to provide the requestor with the
basis and or reasons for having made this determination.
Exhibit B, first sentence. This sentence is incomplete and not understood.
Exhibit B, item 12, bullet point number two.
Search fees, if applicable, this should be removed.
Exhibit B, item 12, bullet number six. As per section 51-24A.54
of the act, if the request is solely for commercial purpose, then the public body
may charge a reasonable fee to recover the direct cost of record search and
copying. Therefore, this bullet could be updated to reflect the specific
allowance for record search. Exhibit B, item 12, bullet point number
nine. I believe this may be a typo and should state schedule of fees to Exhibit
B. Exhibit B, special costs.
The fee for town and PWA employees should not be a flat
fee, but at their hourly rate, whatever that may be, depending on who is doing
the work. Agenda item number 14 proposes a
part-time assistant with administrative duties. As the fee schedule could be
updated to include this option as a cheaper option.
The town administrator fee is high. This fee could potentially discourage
requests that are needed, but due to the circumstances,
uh maybe uh it may need this person's assistance and be time-consuming.
The town attorney fee is high. Again, this fee could potentially
discourage requests that are needed, but due to the circumstances involved,
uh may need this person's uh assistance and be time-consuming.
Thank you.
» Tommy, is there anything that she was just talking about that we
need to address?
Right.
Okay.
Gentlemen, you all have any answers?
Oh, I'm so sorry. You did. Jolita?
I'm sorry. >> I just had a quick question. So, when
we're talking about it's only applying to commercial requests, if the language
of the resolution doesn't make that clear, I think that's an issue. Um I
just I think you should be able to pick up that resolution and say this is not
imposing a search fee on the general public asking for a records request. Cuz
that's I mean, that's pretty definitive in the Open Records Act is you are not
allowed to charge a search fee. Right? If it's for the public interest.
So, what like is there something And I I The second part of that question is
where is this resolution available? Before the meeting.
Okay, so I had to know that it was coming from as of today?
As of Friday. Okay. That's I feel like that could be
something that should be on the website. Possibly.
Just no offense.
So, I had to know to request it before it was ready.
Okay. Okay. So, I had very little time from in
there to actually request it. I feel like that should be something that's
probably part of the posting on the website for maybe the
agenda. That's just a general comment. Um but the search fee is my real main
concern that if there's something that's misconstruing that in this document, I
feel like that's needs to be corrected um and not simply, "Oh, well, we know
that it's only applying to commercial search and
things that are private interest." If that's not explicitly stated clearly, I
think that needs to be addressed. Um that's my main point on the records
requesting. >> Thank you. Joe Leda, I'm sorry.
I just want to say just today alone I have spent I think I'm working on 7
and 1/2 hours today on this smelter deal, my personal time, okay?
That is almost every day for me right now.
I am not doing anything malicious to any of you.
Nor I can speak to Chris and Thomas. We're trying to help.
We truly are, okay? We have got a lot of money and a lot of time out. This has
zero to do with any kind of financial gain
that any of us could get off this, okay? It It It doesn't have anything to do
with our personal things. It has to do with our community. It has to do with
our love of this community. And what
we want to help and we we are trying to help. There are some people that don't
really want us to get our hands on some of this stuff.
Charge, do what you do, it's not going to keep us from getting what we need. I
get it. There's been a lot of pressure put on a lot of people, okay? I get
that. Maybe y'all need to look and see when
the pressures when the pressure started and why it started.
All we're doing is trying to keep our community together. That's all we're
trying to do. We are trying to help. Anything we are requesting, anything we
are wanting, there is a reason for it. There is no
malicious nothing malicious behind it.
And if people are worried about that, then maybe they have a reason to be
worried about it. But we are not trying to be malicious. We are trying to help.
And anything that's put on us, any more extra pressure,
it it's just it's just too much. We should not be having to do this anyway.
I've come to one city council meeting I think in my life
before now to ask for help from the city with the little league stuff.
That's it. Okay? We shouldn't be having to do this.
You all put us in this situation. We're trying to get out of it. Okay?
We're truly truly truly trying to help. We're not trying to hurt anybody. Okay?
Thank you, Chairlady.
Thank you.
Gentlemen. We all think.
Do you have any comments on this? >> Yeah, I was looking at this this
fee schedule and that's right in in line with what they taught
us at the Omag or we're showing us at the Omag when we had our meeting.
And like you know, Tommy said they the wording that he got you know, from the
attorney general. And I know
sometimes I whenever I've gone to the attorney
general, the wording and everything like um
on on the rules and regulations, I I just copied exactly what the attorney
general had stated to me. And so, the the verbage sometimes may not uh
be kind of uh in line with everything, every situation, but that's the verbage
that the state uses. Correct? I mean And so, um you know, I think
by using the verbage, it's already approved by the state
and by OMAG and OML, um then I don't see any
any reasons that we should have to make any changes to it.
» Right.
» I'm good with it. >> Okay.
I can listen. >> I make a motion to approve resolution
2026-07.
» I'll second it. >> Mark made the motion, second by Darlene.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> Yes.
» Okay, number 12. Discussion, consideration, and possible
action to adopt resolution 2026-08 establishing plan review, permit, and
inspection fees for fire suspension, fire alarms, and fire hoods.
» This resolution addresses items that haven't been covered in the past,
especially related to fire suppression. Uh for plan reviews, these are coming
more and more uh common for us, especially with the
activities in the industrial park and any other commercial activity that are
going on that under new code requires fire
suppression. So, I ask that you consider resolution 08 to
address that.
» I'm going to make a motion to approve number 12.
» I'll second that.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. >> Discussion, consideration, and possible
action to appoint an administrative officer to carry out the duties of the
town of the town related to dilapidated
structures as set forth in part A of the ordinance of the town of Iola. Scott?
» At this time, I'd like to and and I've asked the police chief to take on
this position at this time. Uh at some point in the future, we would like to
move this over to somebody who is doing more of our planning review uh and and
inspections, but at this time, we don't have that position. So, um Cliff has
graciously said that the police chief would serve in that capacity. We have
the ability with him being in there to do that with the uh
dilapidated prob- properties that we have that need to be
taken care of as well as potentially some vehicles and that kind of thing
that have been left in the inappropriate positions for
extended periods of time. So, I I would ask that you approve Cliff
taking over this position. >> Cliff, do you have any comments on this?
» He He's excited to do this.
» I bet you are. Um
I'm going to make a motion to approve number 13.
» And appoint Cliff >> Yes, and appoint Cliff
» as the >> the officer
» administrative officer. >> administrative officer.
» I'll second that. >> Thank you.
Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Number 14, discussion consideration of
possible action to hire Brandy Elliott part-time to assist with administrative
duties. Scott? >> Uh I think probably all of you know
Brandy at this point. Uh Mark may not, I don't know. Brandy was
raised here, went to school here, uh left for a period of time while her
husband was in the military. Uh she comes in with quite a bit of experience
administratively in hospitals and clinics.
Um she has graciously agreed if we'll hire her that she'll come in on a
part-time basis and help us with the administrative duties we have around
here. >> What's her maiden name?
» Jones. >> Jones.
» Jones. >> I probably remember.
» And he brought up a good point that I like he said she would be a utility
player. >> I I look at her as a utility player that
we can float around as needed. She's planning on working 32 hours a week.
» Filled in wherever needed.
» Sir, do you have a question? >> Yeah, on number 12,
the inspection fee for the fire inspection,
fire alarm, is that on all
new builds or what is that? >> Beyond any major remodels or new
buildings on the commercial basis, generally speaking.
» Okay. So,
just on new builds and remodels. You're supposed to have them done
every commercial ones every year, I think,
every 2 years or something like that. >> Inspections, yes, are done on an annual
basis, but this is really more geared towards and we've had that in place.
This is really about the permit planning review
side of the >> I just That's all I said.
» Yeah.
» Thank you. Um
I'm going to make a motion that we uh hire Randy Elliott.
» At 17 and a quarter an hour. >> 17 and a quarter an hour as part-time
assistant with administrative duties. >> I'll second that.
» Darlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes.
» Number 15, discussion, consideration, and possible action to approve the
paving of A Street Southeast, B Street Southeast, and B Street Northeast.
Scott? >> We talked about this at the last meeting
we had together. We have since gotten prices together
um to redo those two roads. The public works guys will put in the I think three
casings across that road uh
before they repave it. I think there's one culvert will be replaced.
Uh and then the county will come in with their equipment and labor. We have to
buy the materials. At this point in time, I believe I'm
giving you a high number of not to exceed 175,000.
Currently, the bids for the materials are less than that, but we not sure if
we're going to be under a new contract before they get it later or not.
And with oil and asphalt appearing to go up,
we're going to ask for 175 at this point.
» Well, they all needed for sure. >> We're fortunate these roads don't have
hardly any water lines across them, so we can tear them up and not have to
worry about digging them >> Right.
» again in the future. >> I make a motion to approve item number
15 not to exceed 175,000.
» I'll second. Mark made the motion, second by Darlene.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> Yes.
» Number 16, discussion, consideration, and possible action to transfer money
from the general fund to the street fund.
» At this point, I would like to ask to do this project to transfer 150,000
to be in that account to pay the material bills and then we have to we'll
come back and get the remaining portion.
» All right, I make a motion to transfer money from the general fund to the
street fund of a $150,000.
» I'll second. >> Mark made the motion, second by Darlene.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> Yes.
» Number 17, discussion, consideration, possible action to accept resignation
from Amanda Ryder.
» Yes, she just turned her resignation letter in to me.
We do have multiple copies if you guys want to see that.
She started here in 2003 I believe or correction, 2022 under Brad
Craig. She has served well, she did well and we wish her the best of luck.
» I make a motion to accept the resignation of Amanda Ryder.
» Second. >> Mark made the motion, second by Darlene.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> And thank her for her service, please.
Cliff. Thank you.
Discussion, consideration, possible action to establish trash rates based on
new trash collection contract. >> In your packets there was a sheet
identified as a now I know a trash rate review.
Um I have to apologize that this is not
something I had evaluated in my prior few months of being here.
But under the old contract, we were actually in one case losing money
where we were charging the citizens less than what we were paying the trash
collector. So I went through all of our rates. Um
some of which had been established for many, many years.
Some of which have just not been escalated at the appropriate times.
So, I have put together to you a proposed rate sheet on your right-hand
column side. I have put those in place. As you will
note, it is your choice, but I am recommending that the administrative fee
go to a $1.50 per month. Leave the trash can per a fee alone.
And then you can see the different rates that I've put in there for your
consideration. I will put down there for your note of
reference. If you look at the far right column,
the one container per month is 2145 44 total cost.
And two container at 3238. That is for twice a week pickup, which
as I've done my research, I don't find anybody else doing twice a week unless
you basically double their monthly rates.
Which you can see in Broken Arrow, Tulsa, what
Miller charges outside of Inola, Sand Springs, and Wagoner, Coweta. Um you can
see their rates today for once-a-week pickup per month.
So, we
to give you a perspective of if you look at the far right column,
that amount will give us the money we need one to do container repairs,
container replacements, and all administrative duties that we have in
this office to do with trash as well as public works employees doing their
labor. And any
uh bad debt write-offs.
Uh generically, the calculation of if you
use the right-hand column will generate about 40 to 50,000 dollars a year
for us to cover all those costs. So, it's not a huge number, but it will
at least keep us from probably losing money.
So, it is
my recommendation that you use the rates on the right hand column.
» Gentlemen,
do you have any concerns, comments, questions?
» So, one container would go up
$5 if we went to 15%?
» Correct. Well, yes.
But, our trash rate has gone up over $3 from what we were paying prior to the
new contract. >> And at that old rate, we were
» Basically losing money. >> Yeah.
So, you're proposing the new rates of 20%?
» I am proposing 20% because we have not taken care of this in the prior years.
So, we have fallen behind for lack of oversight on the staff's and
and ultimately my position, I guess.
So, it does appear it looks like a big number, but
when you haven't had it for the last few years, it's not as big as it might look.
And then if you look at it in comparison to the other cities,
we are all very much in the lower half, especially when we do it twice a week.
We would be at very at the bottom of the list if we take into consideration twice
a week pick up. >> Yeah.
» Yeah, I it does uh seem a little high, but
again, you know, we haven't raised it in a while and we were losing money to
begin with. >> Mhm.
» And so, I uh I'll make a motion that we
uh have the increase proposed to the 20%
increase for our trash collection contract.
» I'll second.
» Mark made the motion, second by Arlene. Larry?
» Mhm.
» I'll vote 15.
» I'm going to vote no on the 20.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Arlene? >> Yes.
» Okay. I am going to vote time is up. I'm going
to make a motion to go to PWA at >> We've got another item.
» I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
» Number 19. >> Discussion, consideration, and possible
action to establish automatic trash rate adjustments based upon future charges to
service providers charges to town under trash collection contracts.
» It would administratively suit us a lot better if you will so entrust us to
continue to hold the 20% markup on any adjustments that
our service provider raises in his contract um
to allow us to keep up with time. And, you know, we do get an escalation at
least once a year or a price change. It could go down.
Um so, it it it's my request that you'll
empower us to be able to keep this current
markups that we've we just approved so that we can keep the rates in the same
spread that we have today. >> Okay.
Okay, well, I'm going to make a motion to approve number 19 of the 20%
uh automatic trash rate adjustments based
on future charges to service provider
charges to the town.
» I'll second.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Larry. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. I'm going to make a motion to go to PWA
at 7:27. >> I'll second.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. April, will you do roll, please? Larry?
» Here. >> Mark?
» Here. >> Jan?
Arlene? >> Here.
» Approval of previous regular meeting minutes as
printed. >> I'm making a motion to approve previous
regular meeting minutes as printed.
» I'll second. Mark made the motion, second by Arlene.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Arlene? Arlene? >> Yes.
» Uh number two, monthly PWA report. We have a copy of that in our
files here.
Looks like as usual, the guys have been very busy.
» Yeah, you even had to go to the backside of it.
» Yeah. Thank Thank you, PWA.
» I've got to ask a question.
» Yes.
» Did you on Friday night, did anybody say anything
about our famous ditch that runs from Family Dollar to the
creek? >> No.
» The water was backed up in the
nurse's home nursing home. >> Okay.
» And the ditch had no water in it. Very little.
I think our culvert is too high. We've got to take some
» The culvert at the Dollar Tree.
And yes, it it was always a considered a little bit high. I'll be
honest, that's my opinion. And in fact, and you know a much of the history as I
do on that whole issue, but it would have been nice if it had been
lowered a couple more inches. That did not happen in the negotiations
and the conversations that took place.
So, there was some grading done to help address the the water that was standing
in front of that culvert, but it was not in any indication that it was going to
back it up into the nursing home. >> I would not say. I don't think it got
into it. But what I'm saying is that it was a pretty good lake there.
» Yes, it does. And there is and it probably needs some additional grading.
But at this point I don't think we really
have any avenue to be able to address that with
them cuz we have arm wrestled and arm wrestled on that
one.
Yeah. Yeah.
» I I mean Trent and I drove by there and we looked
and and then the retention
whatever that was on the south side of the
» That's not intended to be retention anymore.
» I know it it it had no water in it. It was all but
I think we need to look at that and because if we
I don't We had a pretty good rain. I mean, it didn't take a
We had a >> It's packed.
» running in our new ditch.
» Yeah. >> We
We didn't spend that money on it, but it's just something I want James to to
if we can even if we lower it 2 or 3 in, we get a little more water.
» I don't think there's a way to lower it unless you want to bring a road boring
company in to re-bore the culvert. >> I wanted to I would just think as the
dirt level with the >> The ditch and the the dirt out in the
nursing home and yard is they have put some sand and other items in there to
kind of help raise it up a little bit. I'm not saying it's adequate, but at one
time it's appeared to be. We They had the contractors on the Dollar Tree did
do that. Um
It's just a bad situation. If the culvert had been installed about 2 to 3
in lower, it would have taken care of all the
problems. >> Okay. That is just
» Yeah.
Okay. >> Thank you.
Uh number three, discussion consideration possible action to adopt
resolution 2026-07, a joint resolution of the town of Iola
and Iola Public Works Authority updating procedures and fees related to
responding to open records requests. This is the same thing that we addressed
earlier. So, I'm going to make a motion to approve number three.
» I'll second.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. Approval of purchase orders as initial.
» I'll make a motion to approve purchase orders as initial.
» I'll second. >> Mark made the motion,
second by Larry. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. Uh I'm going to make a motion to return to
regular session at 7:32. >> I'll second.
» Arlene made the motion, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Arlene?
» Yes. Um make a motion to return from PWA at 7:32 7:33, I'm sorry.
» I'll second.
» Motion made by Darlene, second by Mark. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. Uh number 22, approval of purchase orders
as initialed. >> I'll make a motion to approve purchase
orders as initialed. >> I'll second.
» Mark made the motion, second by Larry. Larry?
» Yes. >> Mark?
» Yes. >> Darlene?
» Yes. >> Mayor's comments. Uh
I want to take this minute because I can't say this enough. I want to thank
our police officers, our police staff, our firemen, PWA, everybody that works
so very hard for our town and our community. I just want to thank every
one of you and tell you how much we appreciate you.
And uh I'm going to make a motion to adjourn
at 7:33.
» I'll second. >> Darlene made the motion, second by Mark.
Larry? >> Yes.
» Mark? >> Yes.
» Darlene? >> Yes.
» Thank you all.