(Cushing) – Cushing City Commissioners have approved a resolution to enter into a contract for the purchase of real estate from the Harris Living Trust. The land is located between Central and Seay Streets near State Highway 33. The item was one of several resolutions approved by Cushing City Commissioners during their regular scheduled monthly meeting Monday at Cushing City Hall.
Also approved was a resolution that lowers fees at Cushing City Lake for fishing and boating activities. There was a lengthy discussion about the fees, with Commissioner Jim Hogrefe arguing that there should be no fees, but the four commissioners in attendance could not agree on the wording of a motion and in the end, voted to approved a resolution as presented. City Manager Steve Spears explained that a local bass fishing club had approached the city about bringing permit fees in line with other area lakes.
Under the current city ordinance, the fees are established by resolution. The commission voted to change the Monthly Fishing permit fee to $3.00. The Daily Fishing Permit fee would be fifty cents. The Daily Boating, Skiing and Fishing Permit would be $2.00, and an Annual Boating, Skiing and Fishing Permit would be $20.00.
Other business conducted by the commission included approval of a second oil and gas lease on city owned property by Calyx Energy, the company which is currently drilling on property just south of the Cushing City Lake on State Highway 33. That well is a directional bore that the company, (and city officials) hopes will strike oil under the lake. The lease approved last night is for a separate piece of property in the same general vicinity.
City Manager Steve Spears noted that the annual city spring cleanup is scheduled for April 5-10, and will include a day for residential pickup of items from curbside. Spears also reported the new skate park facility in Cushing Memorial Park is substantially completed, and plans are in the works for a formal dedication ceremony. He also noted that local skaters were already making use of the facility. And finally, Spears reported that playground equipment for Roy Kemp Park is ready for the city to take possession of and begin installing.
Also on Monday, a proclamation was read by Mayor John Henckel declaring the week of April 11-17, 2010 to be “National PUblic Safety Telecommuncators Week” in the City Of Cushing. The proclamation honors the first line of emergency responders, police, fire and ambulance dispatchers. Cushing Police Chief Terry Brannon spoke to the Commission about the work performed by the dispatchers, and noted that he got his start in law enforcement working as a dispatcher at the Cushing Police Department in 1987 under then Police Chief Don Gourley.
