(Cushing, Okla.) Cushing Board of Commissioners held their monthly meeting Monday evening at City Hall. Agenda items were discussed, and all were passed.
Hypatia member Patti Ahrberg spoke briefly to the Commission during the time allotted at the beginning of the meeting for “appearances or petitions” from the public.
“I would like to thank the City for providing additional funding for the splash pad,” Ahrberg said. “This is a dream come true for residents to have a free splash pad for our children.”
The Hypatia Club set the ball in motion by donating $20,000 toward the cost of a splash pad. The City appropriated $70,000 of the unobligated Gneral Fund balance to be used for construction of a splash pad in Memorial Park. The amount was amended last month in the amount of $10,000 for a total of $80,000. The splash pad is expected to be finished in time to open Memorial Day weekend.
Chairman of the Board Joe Manning said Hypatia Club’s donation was a “good example of partnership” and thanked them for their participation.
In General Business, commissioners approved a resolution appointing Stephen B. Cubbage as an alternate Municipal Judge of the City of Cushing for the term from March 17, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
City Manager Steve Spears explained the need arose for an alternate judge when City Judge Bill Ahrberg and assistant City Judge Wade Shaw had to recuse themselves from an upcoming court case. Spears explained Cubbage would be paid per appearance in court.
City leaders also approved resolutions amending the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget to accommodate a grant in the amount of $6,000 for a technical rescue trailer along with a purchase agreement of $6,035 for its purchase.
According to Fire Chief Chris Pixler the 16′ enclosed trailer will be used to haul such items as lumber used in rescue attempts.
Cushing Public Library was also given the go-ahead to spend funds totally $4,298 received from a Library State Aid grant for the purchase of books.
Commissioners voted to approve to lease 8.80 acres of minerals, in the property commonly known as Hemphill Park. The lease term offered is three years with a prepayment of $200 per net mineral acre with 3/16th royalty. City Manager Spears said permission would need to be granted prior to any drilling.
The Board acknowledged the resignation of Kent Miller from the Cushing Regional Airport Advisory Board. Anyone interested in being on the Advisory Board should contact City Hall.
In General Business of the Cushing Municipal Authority, the Board approved an addendum to a consent order with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
For the past two years, the City has been using cameras to check out underground issues with the wastewater collection system. Some repairs were made as they were discovered, but major issues are being addressed as the City implements its plan to replace the aged infrastructure. The addendum does shorten the schedule proposed by the City in its final engineering report, but according to the City Manager, the schedule is “reasonable.”
“This is a big milestone we’ve been waiting for a long, long time,” Chairman Manning said.
In Cushing Industrial Authority Board business, the Board approved a resolution the execution of an oil and gas lease with Calyx Energy II, LLC on 6.5163 acres on property in the South Industrial Park retained by the Authority. The term of the lease is for 3 years with an option for an additional 3 years at the same price. The Board was given three options for prepayment: 1) Prepayment of $300 per net mineral acre with 1/8th royalty; 2) prepayment of $250 per net mineral acre with 3/16th royalty or 3) prepayment of $150 per net mineral acre with 1/5th royalty. The Board elected to go with the third option.
Under Cushing Hospital Authority business, three resolutions were discussed and approved. The first was to renew the lease agreement with United Community Action Program, Inc., for the property at 223 S. Wilson which houses Head Start.
The other two resolutions involved consenting to sub-lease agreements between AHS Oklahoma Physician Group, LLC and Orthopaedic Center P.C. and Stillwater Medical Center Authority.
The Cushing Board of Commissioners meets the third Monday of each month in City Hall. Meetings are open to the public.
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