Due to the Labor Day Holiday, Purcell’s City Council met Tuesday, September 8 for its monthly meeting where they discussed the relocation of I-35 water tower.

The tower has to be moved due to the OTA’s new south extension turnpike which will intersect the interstate between the current tower and Johnson Road. Expense of moving the tower will be picked up entirely by the turnpike authority.

The council is currently searching for land on which to build a new one. Interim City Manager Bobby Elmore said water pressure in the north part of town will not be affected with the new location where ever it may be.

The council, along with the Purcell Public Works Authority passed a resolution allowing the city manager authority to execute expenditures for the OTA water tower relocation not to exceed $12,465,300.

A similar resolution was passed authorizing the city manager authority to sign checks for the 2026 hangar construction project at the Purcell Municipal Airport not to exceed $910,000.

By a 3-1 margin, the council denied a claim by Mayes Properties LLC for $9,763 for lot 2 block 1 Cliffs 5th Addition and lot 4 block 1 Cliffs Addition. Both properties have exceeded the seven year contract and reimbursement voucher that expired June 12, 2019 for reimbursement of the electric utility rebate. Jay Tate voted to approve the request, but Adam Demorest, Greg Wheat and Tara Phillips voted down the request. Councilman Bobby Bruehl was absent.

The council approved the services and supplies from Hoffman Water Wells LLC for well number 4 not to exceed $65,646 for removal, inspection, testing and new equipment installation.

Council members approved an agreement with Glenn Sullivan and Associates to provide surveying, geotechnical study, engineering and inspection for the OTA I-35 water tower project for $768,000. The board also hired Pinnacle Consulting Management Group, Inc., for right-of-way and easement acquisition associated with the project.

No action was taken on a proposal to have a pre-council meeting prior to the regular meetings.

In the treasurer’s report, Wynn Tyson-Kramer reported sales tax collections are down for the year but use tax collections are up, which he said is a trend across the state.

In the city manager report, Elmore said all the city employees enjoyed the annual end of summer bash September 4.

He gave a report on the repairs to the Red Hill stairs.

Only one bid came in for the project, which will require additional study. Elmore said he is talking to Purcell School District officials about creating a fire break between the hill and the football press box on the east side and for the north and west sides due to residential houses nearby.

Elmore reported the old parking lot where the old PMH was located has been ripped up and dirt work it scheduled to begin soon for construction of the Dominos C-Store. The dirt work is expected to take 4-5 weeks.

The school crossing at the high school and junior high school is being held up primarily due to funding issues.

The Parks and Rec. Department gave a report to the council about the practice field at the city lake, McCurdy Park and the Delta field.