City commissioners reject $600,000 in grant funding

While rate increases approved for city residential and commercial utilities as well as a hike in tipping fees at the municipal landfill facility took centerstage at Monday’s meetings of the Sallisaw City Commissioners and the Sallisaw Municipal Authority board, the administrative bodies also made other decisions, like refusing a $600,000 grant to the city from 2022.

The city was awarded a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in June 2022 for the construction of a leachate line at the municipal landfill facility as well as improvements to the wastewater treatment plant aeration basin.

But for Fiscal Year 2024, the city has $640,710 budgeted in the Infrastructure Improvement Fund (92) for CDBG matching funds for the two projects. However, the landfill leachate line and wastewater treatment plant aeration basin projects are earmarked to be tabled as possible future projects. The city has been unable to obtain easements needed for the construction of the landfill leachate line, with the only solution being the opening and construction of a county road easement, which will result in additional costs being added to the project, costs for which the city has not budgeted.

Given the immediate need of the landfill to construct Cell 8A, city staff requested the city commissioners decline the CDBG, allowing use of the budgeted matching funds for Cell 8A construction.

The urgency of starting construction of Cell 8A requires the city to identify approximately $1.6 million in funding before it bids and awards the project.

In addition, working with its CDBG consultant, the city attempted to convert the CDBG funds to other wastewater projects, but was denied. The city also requested to be allowed to use the funds for construction of Cell 8A, a request that was also denied.

Therefore, declining the $600,000 CDBG was the city’s only recourse.

Projects well underway include those at the Sallisaw Municipal Airport. A bid to Custom Pavement Maintenance and Safety of Van Buren, Ark., was awarded in the amount of $178,510 for the JSV taxiway and apron crack seal and seal coat project. Two bids were received, and Custom Pavement Maintenance and Safety was the low bid.

In addition, city commissioners approved an amendment to a work order to Garner Engineering for grant administration assistance and construction administration services for the airport taxiway and apron crack seal and seal coat project in the amount of $35,650. The amendment increases the engineering fee to $81,650.

Cost of the airport project is $235,261.25, of which the city will pay 5 percent matching funds, or $11,763.06. The lion’s share of the cost is from Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission funding.

The city commissioners also approved an amendment to a previously approved purchase order to Anixter, Inc., for electric materials for the sports complex restroom project in the amount of $885.25, for a final purchase amount of $47,885.25.

Other business

The city commissioners also approved purchase orders to:

• Joe Cooper Chevrolet of Oklahoma City for the purchase of two 2023 Chevy 1500 Tahoes for the police department in the amount of $78,970

• Piney Mountain Industrial of Waldron, Ark., for the purchase of two pumps for Lift Station #1 in an amount not to exceed $30,000

• Vermeer Great Plains of Catoosa for a chipper for the tree trimming department in the amount of $61,910

• Core & Main of Owasso for the installation of two 10-inch EZ valves at the construction site on Kerr Boulevard in the amount of $27,000

• Imperium Supply of Edmond for repairs and/or replacement of various sized transformers in an amount not to exceed $26,000 The city commissioners also approved the Sallisaw Planning Commission’s recommendation of a plat presentation for the Clara Stovall Addition planned for west Sallisaw. The property where a single-family home will be built is on South Ross Road between I-40 and East 1080 Road (Lenington Road). In addition, the city commissioners approved the planning commission’s recommendation for rezoning the property from agricultural to residential.

The commissioners approved canceling their Nov. 13 regular meeting, and convening a special meeting instead on Nov. 9. The change allows city staff to attend the American Public Power Association Customer Connections Conference in San Antonio.

Administrative reports

Keith Miller, building development director for the city, told the city commissioners that the Main Street lighting project is complete. He encouraged everyone go to the 100 block of Cherokee Avenue at night to see the difference LED lights make, saying “it’s going to be a big asset to the way the downtown area around the library” is presented to residents and visitors alike.

The lighting project on Cherokee Avenue is but the expected first step in a continuing lighting project, which may be transitioning to Elm Street.

Another aspect of the lighting project is refurbished sidewalks on Cherokee Avenue where the lights were installed.

Transitioning to his report, City Manager Keith Skelton added to Miller’s report, “Everything’s looking up for the downtown area. It really looks good.”

While talking about lighting, Skelton addressed the lights at Exit 308 of Interstate 40.

“We’ve had issues with those lights for many years now. For one reason or another, they’ve been hard to keep on. Seems like we get them working, operational, then we have a semi come in and take out three or four of them, or something like that. There’s been all types of things happen out there. Right now, I don’t believe any of them are working,” Skelton said.

Materials are on order to repair the lights, and repairs will take place as soon as the materials are received, he said.

“Even though that intersection is gonna be totally revamped and all of it will be torn out, we really need to get those lights on, because that is a benefit for our off ramps. It’s not only a safety thing, but it helps the businesses. If you’re traveling, you’re not gonna get off at a dark exit, you’re gonna go to a lighted one,” Skelton said. “So hopefully we’ll get the material in so hopefully we can get those lights back operational. And hopefully ODOT will help us out on that need.”

Skelton reported that during the recent storm brush pickup, which took several weeks, the city picked up approximately 123 loads, equivalent to about 101 tons of brush. This was taken to the landfill and will eventually be burned.

The city manager also said that during the most recent storm, “we had, I guess, a direct lightning hit to our communications tower at the water plant, which knocked out our entire radio system” and caused about $30,000 in damage. Two radio repeaters had to be replaced. The transfer switch of the generator that serves the tower was also damaged. Repairs were accomplished and an insurance claim has been submitted.

Skelton said this was one of several unbudgeted expenses with which the city has had to contend in recent months.

In his written report to the commissioners, Skelton noted the U.S. 59 North project, reporting that the bulk of materials have been received to complete the project. He said the city has notified its engineer to complete the bid documents and coordinate bidding dates with the city clerk. Skelton said the city will bid the fiber construction as an alternate bid, and that the city plans to complete all fiber splicing with its telecommunications crews.

Skelton said his staff continues to have discussions with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) about the power cost adjustment (PCA) that’s passed on to the city.

In addition, the city manager recently attended the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma (MESO) Board of Directors retreat in Shawnee. During the retreat, various conversations were had concerning public power in the state. The board also discussed the future of MESO and various programs MESO offers, and programs it will have in the future. Representatives of the GRDA and the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority also attended the meetings.

In the near future, Skelton plans to implement a weekly field crew activity report, which will be submitted to the city manager’s office. A weekly summary report will then be compiled for all activities of that week. The intent of this is to better track tasks completed by all departments, along with identifying equipment, infrastructure, personnel or safety issues.

Skelton also said city staff continues to have many discussions with various groups on economic development. Several key projects have either been announced, or will be in the future. “All of these projects will change the landscape of Sallisaw for many years to come,” Skelton said.

Information technology personnel continue to work on replacing outdated IT equipment and also implementing equipment and software to improve security on city computer systems.

Sallisaw Municipal Authority

The SMA board met during an interruption of the city commissioners’ meeting in order to give its approval to a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule, which the commissioners later approved. The SMA also heard a report about the municipal landfill facility and efforts to secure more tonnage, and approved an amended recommendation for a tipping fee increase from $34 to $41 per ton. The commissioners subsequently also approved the increase.

In other business, the board approved a purchase order to Pro-Rooter Welding for replacement of metal for the landfill building in the amount of $7,500. The board previously approved $24,950 for the relocation of the landfill shop building, but it was determined that several pieces of metal siding could not be re-used. The additional $7,500 was needed to replace the metal. The final cost of the project is $32,450.

The board also approved canceling its Nov. 13 regular meeting, and convening a special meeting instead on Nov. 9. The change allows city staff to attend the American Public Power Association Customer Connections Conference in San Antonio.