The school burned on June 9, and the fire is believed to have been arson. David Wayne Hammock, an 18-year-old Sallisaw resident, was arrested and charged with second-degree arson in the fire. The teenager is being held in the Sequoyah County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond on the felony charge.
The property is across the street from Tommie Spear Middle School on Main Street. The first day of school is Aug. 12 and teachers report for the 2004-5 school year on Aug. 9.
Mayor Shannon Vann noted that the city was concerned about the students' safety.
Earl Strebeck of Sallisaw, speaking for the association, said the association board hired Hawkins and Weir engineering firm to look at the remaining walls and central rotunda to see if they can be saved. Based on the engineers' report, Strebeck said, the association hopes to be able to save some of what is left of the school, which includes two wing walls on either side of the rotunda.
He said association members are also considering making part of the property a park.
Strebeck said the engineers report will be submitted to the city "as soon as we can."
Vann asked if the association had the money to reinforce the walls to be saved.
"No we don't," Strebeck said.
But Strebeck added that association members hoped to have the site cleaned up by mid August.
Keith Miller, building code enforcement officer, told the commissioners they had several alternatives in addition to doing nothing. The city can declare the property a public nuisance and give the association time to clean it up or declare the site a public nuisance and do an abatement, for which the association would be charged.
"My concern would be for the children," Miller said. He added he contacted several contractors who estimated it would take three to four weeks to clean up the site.
Commissioner Ron Lockhart asked Strebeck if the association would be willing to pay the city for the clean up, and Strebeck answered "Yes."
Pat Welch, association member, said the association will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Carl Albert State College Sequoyah County Campus in Sallisaw. "We hope to have the engineers' report by then," she said. She added that the public was invited to the meeting.
Old Sallisaw High School Association members decided at their meeting Tuesday to save as much of the building as possible. Donations may be sent to The Old Sallisaw High School Association, P.O. Box 1416, Sallisaw, Okla. 74955.
The commissioners voted to declare the site a public nuisance, and hold off on the abatement until the engineers' report is available.
City Manager Bill Baker said the city has a special meeting set for July 29, when the problem could be discussed further.
Marion Fair, member of the Sallisaw Youth League, asked the city for assistance in replacing sports equipment, particularly football equipment.
The equipment was stored in the old high school and was lost in the fire. The loss is estimated at about $25,000. Fair reported about $3,000 in donations have been received, but the equipment has been ordered because the youth league's football season begins soon.
Fair noted that the youth league has about $33,000, but that money has been saved over a 10-year period to purchase property for sports fields. The estimated cost of just the land for a youth league sports complex is $250,000, Fair said.
Vann noted that it was difficult for the city to donate money to the youth league, but turn down other worthwhile organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club.
"We've tried to support some of these organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club, through facilities," Vann said. The Boys and Girls Club is housed in a building at Choctaw and Elm Streets which is owned by the city.
Fair noted that the youth league's sports venues draw considerable funding into the city. Last year, he said, the league was responsible for about $104,000 spent in Sallisaw.
City Attorney John Robert Montgomery suggested that the city could contract with the youth league to provide the sports services for the youngsters, or could help with the acquisition of a sports complex site.
At Vann's request, Montgomery and Fair said they would work on identifying and investigating the purchase of a site. Fair said the youth league hopes to have at least 50 acres for football, baseball, softball and soccer fields.
The commissioners also:
Approved a renewal of a contract between Baron's Air Service and the city for Baron Wylie to operate the airport. The contract raises Wylie's compensation from $1,800 to $2,000 a month, and sets the condition that when the airport is expanded for jet aircraft, that the profit from the sale of jet fuel will go to the city.
Awarded the contract for the summer street program to Tiger Asphalt of Fort Gibson, at a cost of $198,288 which was the low bid. Baker noted the program was slightly behind due to the recent heavy rains.
Approved the purchase of a basket truck for the electric department at a cost of $64,104, which was the low bid.
Approved the purchase of three mowers, two for the park department and one for the cemetery. The park department mowers will be purchased from Aceco Rental and Sales in Muskogee for $26,211, which was the low bid. The cemetery mower will be purchased from the Cemetery Capital Outlay fund for $8,737.
Approved the purchase of a one-ton cab and chassis for the water department, for the low bid of $17,614 from Randall Ford of Fort Smith, Ark.
Approved the purchase of a pickup truck for the Telecommunications Department for the low bid of $23,665 from Randall Ford.
Approved a rezoning request by Joey and Dalene Duvall for property at 606 S. Main from residential to general commercial to build a daycare center; approved a request from Trad Lattimore for rezoning at 601 W. Redwood from residential to multi-family to build a multi-family dwelling; approved the final plat presentation for Sequoyah Estates by Trad Lattimore at Sequoyah Avenue and Lessley Lane to build single-family dwellings; and approved the final plat for Kibbe Estates by Jerry Don Kibbe to build a residence at the corner of McGee Drive and Shurley Avenue.
After an executive session, the commissioners approved the city staff to do as directed for the possible purchase of real estate.
Baker reported to the commission that he has asked the Grand River Dam Association to look at the city's electric substations because they have received more lightning strikes than usual. He also announced that the city electric department has received an award from the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma for the city's electric system. Baker also thanked all city employees for their assistance during heavy rains and flooding on July 2.
As the municipal authority, the commissioners:
Accepted bids for video headend installation for the city's new fiber-to-the-home project, and turned the bids over to the staff for review.
Awarded a contract for $123,809 to SeaChange International of Maynard, Mass., for a video on demand system.
Accepted the low bid of Wild West Web to set up a website for the city.
Accepted Atlantic Engineer's bid for fiber construction materials for the fiber-to-the-home project.
Tabled the purchase of cabinets for the fiber system because they may not be needed.
