City makes cuts

City council votes decrease in funding for MEDS, Pride

By James Beaty

The McAlester City Council voted to cut funding to three organizations during the council’s regular meeting at City Hall on Tuesday night — but members of the groups let the council know they recognize the city is facing tough financial times.

Mayor Kevin Priddle told those present that he wished the city did not have to cut back any of its funding, but with declining sales tax collections, the city had few options.

“I would like to never have to cut anybody,” Priddle said. “Unfortunately, we live in the real world.”

City councilors voted unanimously to cut funding that had previously been approved for the McAlester Economic Development Service, Oklahomans for Independent Living and for Pride in McAlester.

Following an amendment by Priddle, the city’s funding cut for MEDS for the remainder of the current fiscal year — which ends on June 30, 2010 —  totaled $39,849.

Priddle said he had originally planned to recommend that funding for MEDS be cut by $21,850 — but MEDS has not had to pay an executive director’s salary since Jim Mills recently retired from the post.

City councilors voted to cut funding to Oklahomans for Independent Living and to Pride in McAlester — the award-winning group responsible for cleaning up much of the city — by 10 percent.

The cuts in city funding would amount to $2,400 to Oklahomans for Independent Living and $6,000 to Pride in McAlester.

While no one from the groups opposed the cuts, MEDS Board President Dr. Kenneth Miller briefly addressed the council.

He told the council he had a number for them — 5,840.

“There were 5,840 deaths” in Oklahoma that could have been prevented last year, Miller said.

Causes ranged from substance abuse and tobacco use, to non-use of seat belts and illness, according to Miller.

“We try to get jobs; we try to get jobs with health insurance,” Miller said, shortly before the council took a vote.

He said the state’s overall health grade is “49th or 50th” when compared to other states.

“I feel ashamed,” he said.

“I feel that jobs equal health.”

Ward 3 Councilor John Browne said he thought MEDS has done an outstanding job, bringing in $125 million in investment and 1,309 jobs in recent years.

Referring again to the cuts, Priddle said “These are not times for the faint of heart.” Somebody has to make the decisions, he added.

Pride in McAlester members did not oppose the cuts to that organization, but a beaming J.T. Collier needed two tote bags to carry the group’s recent state-wide awards to the meeting to show the city councilors.

All of the city councilors who were present and Mayor Priddle voted in favor of the cuts. Ward 4 Councilor Haven Wilkinson did not attend the meeting.

City councilors also unanimously passed a resolution to declare two properties in the city as dangerous by reason of dilapidation and to recommend their removal.

The property at 1812 Cardinal Lane is a site where there had recently been a house fire, and the remains of the structure are a source of danger to the public, said Acting City Manager Pete Stasiak.

During the meeting, Steve Bogard told the council that he had recently purchased the property on Cardinal Lane and planned to have the structure demolished so he could sell the property. He asked for a 90-day extension.

Stasiak told him he could apply for an extension and should meet either with him or the city’s Chief Financial Officer Gayla Duke.

Getting the extension requires the posting of a $2,500 bond, which could be recouped when the project had been completed to the city’s satisfaction.

The other house, at 821 Indiana Ave., has been the site of an ongoing dispute between the city and the house’s owner, Joyce Ramsey.

Although the city recently dropped its lawsuit against Ramsey in connection with the property, the city subsequently refused to issue her a permit to conduct the needed repairs.

Three neighbors addressed the council in support of having the house at the corner of Ninth Street and Indiana Avenue removed. Vicki Brown, Joe Richardson and Larry Butler all told the council they would like to see the structure demolished.

Stasiak told the council that he considered the home a non-conforming structure and that it caused a visual problem for drivers trying to pull onto Ninth Street from Indiana Avenue.

No one spoke against the city’s decision to demolish the house.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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