Atoka City Council Meeting – New Upgrades For City Departments
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Due to the Monday holiday, Labor Day, the Atoka City Council held their bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.
In attendance for the meeting were: Mayor Brian Cathey, Vice-Mayor Diane McGee, Councilmembers Coby Sherrill, Erica Pogue, and Pat Turner, City Manager Danny Delay, City Clerk Joye Angel, Deputy Clerk Phyllis Bates, City Attorney Pat Phelps, and Atoka City Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) Director Carol Ervin.
The Council received two bids for the parks project to resurface the basketball courts. After the resurfacing is complete the Council plan to commemorate the basketball courts in the Choctaw Nations’ honor.
The first bid was from Downey Contracting, LLC for $272,962.00. The second bid was from Weldon Construction in the amount of $114,687.00. The Council accepted the bid from Weldon Construction.
A Community Facilities Grant from the USDA was awarded to the City of Atoka in the amount of $21,700. The City will add $7,339 to that amount to fund the upgrade of the Police Department’s technology. The total cost of the project is $29,039.
A sewer camera was approved to be purchased. The camera will allow work crews to pinpoint exactly where an issue or leak has occurred, saving money and man hours. The camera can record, has GPS, and can transfer data via memory card or USB.
The new addition will cost $12,378.35. The City has received a grant in the amount of $6,000 which will cover a portion of the cost. The City’s portion of the cost will be $6,378.35.
The Council voted to authorize the application for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP).
The grant will be in the amount of $272,800, and will go towards the Water Main Replacement Project. The Project will replace a water line at Indiana Avenue and Court Street to Tenth Street. The grant will not require a match from the City.
A truck has been approved for purchase for the Capital Improvement Department. The Capital Improvement Crew have been borrowing a vehicle from the Water/Sewer Department to transport employees and equipment.
“In looking over our vehicle situation, I felt like that’s where we needed to start.” City Manager Danny Delay advised the Council. “Start with a dependable work truck that we can do multiple things with. We need to start there then gradually improve our fleet.”
The vehicle will be a 2021 Super Duty F-350 with four wheel drive at a state contracted price of $34,636.00. Money in the budget had been set aside for the purchase of the truck.
The City of Atoka has been approved for a USDA Grant in the amount of $120,400 to help with the purchase of a new brush truck and equipment for the Atoka Fire Department.
“Number Two Station’s truck is currently a 1990 model,” Mayor Brian Cathey said. “The Fire Department needs a good vehicle.”
The total cost of the vehicle and equipment is $160,652. The grant will cover 75% of the purchase with the City’s portion of the project costing $40,162.
A pedestrian light will be installed in the near future by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The light will stop traffic for pedestrians needing to cross Greathouse Drive from the school and stadium.
Once installed, the City will be responsible for the monthly maintenance.
The topic of “trick or treat” was brought before the Council.
Halloween will fall on a Saturday this year, however, many citizens are concerned with maintaining social distancing and opting out of “trick or treat.”
No action was taken on this topic. If a citizen wishes to not participate in Halloween the Council left it at the resident’s discretion to post signage or turn off their porch lights.
The Council urged citizens and children to be respectful of those who did not wish to participate.
The Council approved the payment to Wall Engineering Services for the Water Treatment Plant Project and Core and Main LP for the AMR/AMI Meter Improvements Project during the municipal authority meeting.
An item on the agenda regarding the concern of a citizen was for water usage and charges to Stevie Crawford for his home in Dunbar Circle.
Crawford explained the issue he had been having with high water bills that had been going on since December of 2019.
The Council determined that the City was not at fault for the charges due to the leak, that was discovered, being on the resident’s side of the meter. A leak was near the water heater inside a locked room. The residents of Dunbar Circle do not have access.
Crawford was advised to speak to his landlord regarding the payments he had submitted and request reimbursement.
