By John Yates
McAlester City Council’s regular meeting, to be held Monday this week rather than Tuesday, could see the council acting on the Planning and Zoning Committee's recommendations to annex property adjacent to McAlester city limits in two areas.
In addition, this week’s agenda includes four items under the consent agenda, two matters for a public hearing, 12 items of scheduled business, plus the routine report of the acting city manager, council remarks and inquiries, and other routine business.
Regarding the annexation recommendations by the Planning and Zoning Commission, there are two separate items and areas involved. In both cases, the commission met Nov. 17 and unanimously voted to recommend the annexations to the council. It was noted the lands are being considered for the future growth of the city and lay adjacent to city limits and water and sewer infrastructure.
One of the proposed areas is west of U.S. 69 near the northern area of the city, part of it adjoining properties in Krebs city limits. The other involves land east of U.S. 69, surrounding the Walmart Supercenter on three sides. The agenda packet also contains pertinent utilities information regarding the annexation recommendations.
The consent agenda contains a total of four items that could, if the council desires, be approved with one vote, without discussion. That consent agenda includes three items to approve minutes from meetings held earlier this month, and the fourth is for approval of claims for Dec. 9 through Dec. 21.
Two areas for public hearing are on the revised agenda. One deals with amending the budget, and the other involves closing and vacating a platted alleyway.
In the first items of scheduled business, Chief Financial Officer Gayla Duke is to present the city of McAlester’s treasury report and financial information. That is to be followed by an item concerning an amendment to the ordinance that set the city's budget for the current fiscal year.
Next, the council could take action to set election dates for wards 2, 4, and 6. Then, the previously tabled matter in which the mayor could be authorized to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for emergency management with the county returns to the discussion table.
Next on the agenda is a resolution reaffirming the city's commitment to administer grant funds.
Then comes the annexation recommendations, followed by the council having the opportunity to vote to close an alleyway between A and B streets in the city's block 172. Following that, the mayor could be authorized to sign an agreement with a company for secure shredding services. The next item on the agenda includes the council voting on whether or not to direct settlement fund proceeds in a case in which the city has been involved.
The next to the last agenda item involves the council considering amendments to contracts with the Oklahomans for Independent Living, McAlester Economic Development Service, and Pride in McAlester, as the council had previously given notice they were going to do so.
Finally in items under scheduled business, the council could approve spending approximately $80,000 to repair a portion of the Sandy Creek Canal Wall.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m., Monday evening in council chambers at city hall, and the meeting is open to the public.
John Yates is the News Director for McAlester Radio.
