(Cushing, Okla.) Cushing Board of Commissioners heard reports from the Cushing Public Library board and from Fire Chief Chris Pixler regarding emergency preparedness, Monday evening during the regular monthly meeting.Although several members of the Cushing Public Library board were present, as well as head librarian LaDawn Conner, Dr. Frank Denney served as spokesman.Denney shared statistics regarding the worth of libraries in Oklahoma.
State of Oklahoma FY 2013:
Adults in Oklahoma borrowed 14,413,832 books. If they had to pay for these books themselves, the lowest cost would be $352,129,916.
Children’s books borrowed were 7,572,502 at a value of $13,516,917.
Audio Visual materials borrowed were 4,130,790. If purchased, it would have cost $54,195,080.
People attending free programs at the library were counted at 34,042,179 an estimated value of $25,573,288.
Computer use (3,822,609) valued at $12,996,870.
Reference service (25,289,747) is valued at $17,702,822.
For every taxpayer dollar spent on public libraries, library customers received $5 worth of services.
Library patrons bring needed revenue to the city. While they are in town to visit the library, they shop, eat out, fuel their vehicles and contribute to the community in other ways.
94% of Americans said having a public library improves the quality of life in a community.
95% believe public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed.
Denney also pointed out that public libraries are not “dinosaurs,” but a great resource in communities. They provide a place for those who may be unemployed to use the internet to apply for jobs; a place for those interested in geneology to do research; they save families money by providing a place to borrow books and DVDs instead of buying them; and they provide a safe environment for children to take advantage of free programs and learn the value of reading.
Some of the various programs and clubs meeting at Cushing Public Library are: Chess Club (Mondays, 6 p.m.), Needlecraft Group (Mondays, 6:30 p.m.) and NaNoWriMo (learn to write a novel in 30 days). The Library also offers several things for children – LEGO Club, first Tuesday of the month @ 6 p.m. (ages 5-12); Book Buddies Story Time, Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. (ages 3 – 5); Book Babies Story Time, Thursdays @ 10 a.m. (9 mos – 2 yrs); Reading Quest (ages 6 – 10); and for those ages 13 & up, Anime Club.
Denney thanked the Board for approving e-books, saying, “We have had a good response to e-books. It has been a good addition to the Library and it’s important we keep up with technology.”
He also thanked the Board for their support and the opportunity to give an update on the great things happening at the Library.
Emergency Preparedness
In other business, commissioners heard from Fire Chief Chris Pixler regarding emergency preparedness in Cushing – a question that has been raised in the wake of recent earthquakes.
City Manager Steve Spears prefaced Pixler’s statements by saying, “There’ve been a lot of things on the news about the earthquake potential in this area and what effect it might have on our infrastructure, particularly oil company related, and we just wanted to make sure that our citizens knew that they are number one in our mind.”
Pixler read the following statement:
“The City of Cushing strives to provide for the security and safety of all residents and patrons of the City through comprehensive emergency plans, allocation of emergency assets, coordinated emergency drills and exercises and continual training for emergency responders and public works employees.
With the recent increase in seismic activity in and around Cushing, we would like to assure our residents that their safety is our first priority. City staff has reviewed the emergency operations plan and are updating all areas deemed necessary to meet the current seismicity risk posed to our community. We will continue to monitor and update all response protocols and procedures as necessary.
The emergency management, police and fire departments are currently incorporating earthquake safety and preparedness information and messages into their public education plans and will be working with the local businesses and school system to ensure all citizens have knowledge of the best case practices to increase their safety during seismic events.
We encourage all of our citizens and patrons to be proactive in emergency preparedness and safety. Practice your drills for fire, tornado and earthquakes and review your emergency plan with your family. Build a disaster supplies kit with food, water and other necessary supplies. An effective and well communicated emergency plan and supplies kit are great assets should we experience an emergency event in our community. You will find help and guidance on emergency plans at www.ready.gov, www.redcross.org or by contacting the police, fire or emergency management departments.”
“To follow that up, we are all a little new to earthquakes in Oklahoma – even the police and fire and emergency management are trying to catch up and make sure we have the correct message to get out to the public and the appropriate safety protocol,” Pixler said. “I don’t think I can say enough how the citizens need to be pro-active, also. An earthquake emergency won’t be that different from a tornado emergency. Our emergency procedures will be pretty much the same, your emergency supply kits would be the same…”
Commissioner Don Amon echoed Pixler’s statement regarding citizens being “pro-active” in their preparedness.
“I know when we had the big earthquake a couple of weeks ago..,” Amon said. “Social media lit up with ‘we don’t have a plan of action, we don’t have anything on hand’…I’m just here saying if you are expecting the government to take care of you during an earthquake, I’m not sure that will help – I’m going to be running, too!… We have to take a little responsibility.”
Both Spears and Chairman of the Board Terry Brannon reitereated the city does have a plan in place should any kind of emergency situation take place.
Spears also pointed out the Corporation Commission recently issued new guidelines in direct response to earthquakes in our area.
To keep up with news from the Corporation Commission visit: www.occ.state.ok.us/
Other agenda items from meeting:
On the recommendation of Chuck Crooks, CBEW, the audit of the various municipal trust authorities was tabled due to new information from OMRF (Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund).
A resolution authorizing the renewal of the fixed base opearator lease agreement of the Cushing Regional Airport with Jim Clements, d/b/a Cushing Flight Service for a term of three years was approved.
A resolution establishing a policy regarding extensions of time to pay for utility services provided by the City of Cushing was approved. (changed from “12 month time period” to “calendar year” to make it easier to track and explain)
A resolution establishing utility service fees to be charged for connections, transfer of service, delinquent payment mail notice, delinquent payment door hangar notice, restoring service after cut-offs for non-payment, return checks and meter test or re-check; and establishing monthly fees for security lights was passed.
(Changes include replacing the word “utility” for “electric” to clarify the intent of the resolution that it pertains to all utility services. The current resolution does not address the City’s cost to turn on water to a utility customer and since the Ciy has several customers that have water but no other services, the resolution change will allow the City to charge a trip fee – whether it be for water services, electric services or both. The resolution also increases fee for meter testing/re-check or demand meter check from $40 to $50. Spears explained the meter testing fee increase is to cover the cost of sending it to an independent lab for testing. However, should the meter be deemed inaccurate, there would be no charge to the customer.)
The Board also approved the appointment of two members (Chantz Candler and Andy Beck) to serve new three-year terms on the Airport Advisory Board.
In Cushing Hospital Authority business, the Board approved the lease renewal with United Community Action Program, Inc. (Cushing Head Start Program) for one year for the property at 223 W. Wilson. The terms and conditions are unchanged from prior leases.
Monthly meetings of the Cushing Board of Commissioners are held the third Monday of each month. Meetings are open to the public.
***
