McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

January 23, 2013

School's roofing, new city logo, among council agenda items

McALESTER — Taking steps to help McAlester Public Schools for completion of a new metal roof at a school in the city is among the items on the agenda for the McAlester City Council’s next regular meeting.

Councilors are set to meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall.

An agenda item regarding the school roof calls for councilors to consider and act upon a memorandum of understanding between the McAlester Public Works Authority and the McAlester Public Schools Board of Education.

The  action, placed on the agenda by City Manager Pete Stasiak would authorizes the release of funds derived from City Ordinance 2159 for the acquisition, construction or equipment of educational facilities.

Councilors are to consider a motion to approve a memorandum of understanding that would convey to the McAlester School District $370,000 to be used for completion of the new metal roof at Puterbaugh Middle School.

The McAlester Public Works Authority approved a memorandum of understanding Feb. 14, 2012, to provide McAlester Public Schools $700,000 for the repair or replacement of school roofs.

MPS is requesting an additional $370,000 to complete the second  half of the Puterbaugh Middle School roof, according to city documents.

The money is derived from sales tax returns collected from a sales tax originally passed by city voters on a city question to fund new construction at McAlester Public Schools.

At the time, the school district was having a difficult time meeting the 60 percent of the vote threshold required to pass a school bond issue.

The state legislature has allowed for school-related measures to be considered as a city vote, it it’s agreeable to both the city and the school district. When the measure passed, it had allowed for new constriction at McAlester High School, including constriction of the Lucy Freeman Smith center.

However, since the measure passed as a city question, the city receives the money from the sales tax collections on the issue and must pay off the bonds.

In other Tuesday night action city councilors are to;

• Consider and act upon approving the proposed new city of McAlester logo that was presented on January 8 by Marketing Alliance, of Mississippi. The logo, part of which resembles a banner waving in the wind reads: McAlester, The Great American Experience.

• Consider and act upon accepting a refund of  $11,250 from MPower Economic Development Corporation for an unused appropriation related to a previously unfilled staff position.

MPower received an appropriation from then city to pay the salary for a staff position for MPower, but the position was not filled for four and one-half months, according to city documents.

 • Consider, and act upon, declaring certain vehicles and equipment surplus property in accordance with the Code of Ordinances Sec 2-287.

The motion is expected to be to declare a number vehicles and equipment from the Fleet Maintenance Department  surplus property and authorize their sale. Also included is equipment from the city’s Information Technology Department.

A motion is to take two previously declared surplus items back into service, an International truck now used at the landfill and a flatbed trailer.

City staff has also recommended disposal of some cell phone equipment valued at less than $300, which may include, donation of the surplus cell phones to the District 18 District Attorneys office for reprogramming and distribution to qualifying members of the public.

• Consider and act upon, authorizing the mayor to sign a lease agreement between the city of McAlester and the federal Aviation Administration for term beginning Feb. 1, 2013 and ending  Sept. 30, 2022 at a rate $3,800 annually.

The FAA has a continued need to lease the space as an equipment room for FAA navigational equipment in support of McAlester Regional Airport, according to city documents.

• Discussion, and possible action on approval of costs related to the McAlester Fire Department. Money would be from the McAlester Fire Department’s portion of the county quarter cent excise tax for fire services.

One item would be a motion to approve the cost of communication equipment in the amount of $3,102.80 and another for the cost of a smoke generator in the amount of $4,123.

• Another item would include a motion  to approve a bid award to purchase six new and unused SCBAs, or self contained breathing apparatus equipment, with eight replacement cylinders, in the amount of $30,320, with money also to come from the McAlester Fire Department’s   portion of the county quarter cent excise tax for fire services.

• Consider, and act upon, rejecting the two bids received for one new, and unused, asphalt paver. The low bid didn’t meet requirements, another bid was 15 percent higher than the first bid and a third company did not include a bid, according to city documents.

 • Consider, and act upon, a resolution declaring  a building a 302 W. Springer Ave.  as dangerous by reason of being dilapidated and a detriment to the welfare of the public and community.

• Discussion of the McAlester water treatment plant and distribution system, to include peak capacity, maximum production and projected capacities necessary to supply future and/or potential commercial/industrial growth.

For more on this story, see the print or electronic editions of the McAlester News-Capital. Click here for print edition home delivery or click here to see the Smart Edition for your computer, tablet, e-reader or smartphone.

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