Council gets good news

Purcell’s City Council got some good news during its monthly meeting Tuesday at the Police Service Building.

Normally, the council meets on the first Monday of the month. But that was January 2, which was recognized as the New Year holiday.

So the city board met Tuesday night and were told the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has increased its support for the Main StreetScape project by $700,000. That word came from James Hazzard of HALFF Associates.

Hazzard also presented the revised bid format.

The revision includes two bid alternatives on lighting and landscaping. The city can choose to have a contractor provide the service or the city staff can do it to save contractor mark-up, according to City Manager Dale Bunn.

The council passed several ordinances including revising the tobacco ordinance to include several definitions, establish distance provisions and adding a grandfather clause which excludes current retailers.

Another ordinance passed establishes Farmers’ Market regulations. It will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in City Zoning A-S.

Bunn said those two ordinances not only improves healthy conditions in Purcell but also satisfy conditions for staff to apply for grants for trails and similar projects.

The council approved signing an Affidavit of Possession to clear a title on the old hospital property at 1500 N. Green Avenue.

Jon Larsen of ODOT presented information on realignment recommendations of the westbound and eastbound lanes of US 77-SH 39 at Washington and Green. The council elected to study the proposal.

The South Green Avenue Lighting project was moved to the February meeting allowing time to acquire additional cost quotes.

An ordinance draft dealing with short term rentals was presented to the council. The board decided further discussion was warranted. Anyone in the public sector who wants to weigh in can get information from City Attorney Greg Dixon. The revision will be on the February agenda.

The council approved allowing Tractor Supply to install above ground liquid propane gas storage after the company receives a permit from the LP Gas Commission. The construction must be approved by the Fire Marshal, Fire Chief and City Manager by meeting state and local laws.

The Purcell Hospital Retention Pond Improvement Project was awarded to Central Plains Construction Group LLC with a bid of $196,878. The other bid was received from Wee Construction for $210,000.

The council approved a resolution committing the city to provide the local share amount of $74,100 for 25 percent of the estimated cost of $296,400 to repair Johnson Avenue between SH 74 and 230th street using Municipal Road Drilling Activity Funds (MRDAF).

Bunn reported that was on the previous month’s agenda but further study discovered a portion of Johnson Avenue is not in the city limits. The project was refigured to include only portions within the city limits. The areas not in the city limits will be resurfaced by McClain County.

The council had previously approved hiring Sullivan & Associates to drill test holes prior to a new water well, analyze the water and prepare written summary not to exceed $160,000.

Glenn Sullivan & Associates, Inc. revised the project to bid three test holes, one public water supply well, and approximately 19,000 l.f. of 12” collector line.  The council approved and Sullivan will put together information for consideration on the February agenda to use as the permit request to ODEQ and OWRB.

The council approved the recommendation of the Purcell Municipal Hospital Board of Directors to appoint Bridget Cosby to fill the vacancy of Cindy Carmichael.

The council approved purchase of Skytron UVC Disinfection Devices in the sum of $39,999.50 upon recommendation of the PMH Board of Directors.