City Commission considers board appointments

Appointment of new board members to the Stillwater Medical Center Authority and the Stillwater Regional Airport Authority are scheduled for Monday’s Stillwater City Commission meeting.

Two positions are open for appointment on the medical center and airport authority boards. Harold Sare and Jerry Franklin, medical center authority board members, both reached the end of their third term, and term limits, with the new year.

Recommended for appointment to the SMC Authority are Calvin Anthony and David Pitts. If appointed, both will serve three-year terms.

Charles Bacon has reached his term limit on the airport authority board and Bill Villines’ term expired with the new year. Villines is recommended for a second term and Lee Roy Smith is recommended for appointment to his first term. Both terms will be three years.

A staffing proposal from the public works department will be considered Monday. At a special meeting held Jan. 18, the commission approved completion of all projects contained in the original one-half cent sales tax program and to continue to dedicate $300,000 a year to “Neighborhood Street” projects for the duration of the one-half cent sales tax.

Also approved was expansion of the tax program to include wayfinding projects and the extension of Third Avenue from Washington to West Street. The staffing proposal from public works to create a project management section within the engineering division to handle one-half cent sales tax projects was tabled until all five members of the commission were present.

In a report to the commission from pubic works, three areas are noted for recurring problems in the execution of projects; right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation coordination and construction management.

Regardless of outside contracting, public works retains responsibility for the timely completion of construction projects. The project management section is proposed to consist of five employees; two project managers, a right-of-way/utility coordinator and two construction inspectors. The project management section could be established and operated for less than the current cost for contracting services.

The staffing proposal will shift responsibilities to city staff and could improve the construction program by reducing construction delays, minimizing right-of-way acquisition conflicts and improving service. An expenditure limit of $197,000 is recommended by staff to establish the five new positions and the project management section. All positions will expire with the one-half cent sales tax.

Items on the consent docket include:

• Approval of March 5 for a public meeting to consider annexation of property in the 1100 block of West Richmond Road. The owners have reportedly consented to annexation;

• Approval of a waiver of the pilot payment for the Stillwater Housing Authority;

• Approval of emergency shelter grant applications for Stillwater Domestic Violence and the Mission of Hope;

• Parks, Events and Recreation is requesting approval of a bid recommendation for a pre-engineered slab and metal building for the parks department. Staff recommends the bid be awarded to PC Steel of Stillwater in the amount of $82,894;

• PER also will request a budget amendment for the state Highway 51 Payne County Expo Center tree planting project. The $13,978 will be offset by grant revenue;

• A budget request from the Stillwater Police Department will be considered for appropriation from the Galie May Koch Donation Fund for the city’s share of provided electric services to the SPD gun range;

• The Stillwater Public Library is requesting approval of a budget amendment for The Big Read to be offset by a National Endowment for the Arts grant;

• Approval of an extension for the agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The extension is set to run until June 30.

In executive session, commissioners will discuss pending workers’ compensation claims filed by Wyatt Irving, Paul Blankinship and Ronald Lightfoot.

The commission meeting will be held in the Commission Hearing Room at the Municipal Building, 723 S. Lewis. Agendas can be found at the Stillwater Public Library, 1007 S. Duck, or the city’s Web page, www.stillwater.org.