City condemns properties, declares others as surplus

Sallisaw leaders are serious about cleaning up the city.

At Monday’s monthly meeting of the city commissioners, the board declared three properties a public nuisance and directed city crews to abate the properties.

In addition, four cityowned residential properties were declared surplus, and will be offered for sale via sealed bid.

And City Manager Brian Heverly announced the consolidation of past cleanup campaigns — Chunk your junk, Curbie sign ups, road clean ups, sidewalk cleanoffs and road work — into an all-inclusive emphasis called “Spruce Up Sallisaw.”

The properties condemned in a public hearing included 107 N. Hickory, 2412 E. Cherokee Avenue and 2550 E. Cherokee Avenue.

The residential property on Hickory, also known as “Pooh’s Corner,” was destroyed by fire on November 13. Prior to the fire, it had been without active utilities since 2018. There is also evidence that the site has frequent transient activity, and poses a safety concern.

The property at 2412 E. Cherokee, commonly known as “Ed’s Truck Stop,” has one remaining structure that was destroyed by fire on June 4. It has been without active utilities since 2019, and evidence indicates it is the site of frequent transient activity. The Building Development Department’s opinion is that the structure is not suitable for human occupancy, is beyond repair, is a safety concern and should be removed.

The other Cherokee property, commonly known as “the old golf course,” has three structures. It has been without active utilities since 2022, and evidence indicates it is the site of frequent transient activity. One structure that was used for covered parking has completely collapsed. The remaining two structures are unkept and cluttered with excessive debris. Both of these structures are in various states of disrepair. All structures are a safety concern. The Building Development believes these structures are far beyond repair and should all be removed.

The four city-owned residential properties that were declared surplus, were identified only by their legal description. The city commissioners directed staff to solicit sealed bids for the sale of the property.

“Spruce up Sallisaw” is scheduled for the last full week of March, which will consolidate actions that were previously “disconnected,” such as Curbie sign ups, road clean ups, sidewalk clean-offs, Chunk-yourjunk and road work.

Other business

The commissioners approved:

• An ordinance prohibiting unauthorized camping on city-owned lands. The ordinance prohibits overnight camping on city-owned land that has not been designated as a campsite. This mirrors a recently passed state law. It was emphasized that the ordinance provides for law enforcement to exercise discretion whether to cite an individual. After an individual, once confronted, refuses to move or refuses assistance offered by a law enforcement officer, it is a violation of the ordinance, which is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $50 or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 15 days, or both.

• A contract between the city of Sallisaw and Texas AWOS Services LLC for maintenance of the current AWOS system at the Sallisaw Municipal Airport. The former provider, William Marvin Johnson Inc., has retired as a business owner, but is taking service calls for the new company, Texas AWOS Service LLC. The cost of the service remains the same as it was for William Marvin Johnson Inc.

• A request by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) that the city move the runway rehabilitation project at Sallisaw Municipal Airport into the current fiscal year in the event the FAA has additional funding available for shovelready projects. The ODAA believes there is a high probability that the FAA will be able to move this project into its FY2025 grant cycle. The actual construction phase of the project, including the awarding of bids, is expected to take place in FY2026. The ODAA will act on the city’s behalf for the design portion of the runway rehabilitation project. The city’s portion of the design project will be 5% of the total project cost, which is $181,700. The city’s match will be $9,085.

• A purchase order issued to Gray Brothers Equipment of Poteau in the amount of $65,400 for the purchase of a Kubota compact track skid steer for the Parks Department. The current wheeled skid steer being used will be passed to another department. Other bids received were from Warren Caterpillar of Tulsa in the amount of $72,915 and from P&K Equipment of Poteau in the amount of $77,023.44.

• A purchase order issued to John Vance Fleet Services of Guthrie in the amount of $144,054 for the purchase of three 2025 Ford F150 Crew Cab pickup trucks for Building Development, Electric and Diamondnet. The pickups will be delivered in April. The cost per unit is $48,018.

• A purchase order issued to Interworks of Stillwater in an amount not to exceed $40,000 for the purchase of a Dell PowerStore 500T data storage server to be utilized by City Hall and the police department. The server will replace an older server at City Hall that is classified as “end of life.” The purchase price is $38,614.30.

• A request by city staff to reject bids for the Sallisaw Sports Complex Soccer and Sport Court Project. When bids were opened on January 14, both bids received “were unreasonably high” and well in excess of the $500,000 allotted. Bid amounts received, with addendums, were from Hoey Construction in the amount of $1,811,882.50, and Steve Beam Construction in the amount of $2,777,527.10.

• A rezoning request from Residence District (R-2) to Office District (C-1) for property located at 203 S. Locust. The request is by Brandi Phillips, who intends to open a professional office at the address. The Sallisaw Planning Commission heard this item on February 4, and recommended approval of the rezoning.

• Changes to an ordinance related to new leases at the airport. The changes amend the lease term for a privately owned T-hanger from 20 years to 30 years, the lease for a privately owned corporate/box hangar from 25 years to 40 years, and the lease for a commercial aeronautical facility from 30 years to 40 years. Preexisting hangar leases will be offered fiveyear extensions for a period not to exceed 30 years for privately owned T-hangar(s) and not to exceed 40 years for privately owned corporate/box hangars or commercial aeronautical facility. Leases for the construction of hangars will change from “not to exceed 20 years” to a 30-year term. At the conclusion of the original 30-year term, the lessee will have the option for two five-year extensions for a total of 40 years.

The commissioners also convened into a 30-minute executive session in which they discussed pending litigation in the case of Watie v. City of Sallisaw, et al. No action was taken in executive session.

Presentations

Sallisaw Police Chief Terry Franklin presented a watch to Cpl. De’Shawn Barron-Neff in recognition of her 20 years of service. Barron-Neff retired in December, and a reception is planned for later this month.

The commissioners received a presentation from Garrett Graham, agriculture teacher at Sallisaw High School, requesting an ordinance change/allowance to allow for skeet and trapshooting practice.

The commissioners also received a presentation from Jacob Robinette, who is working on his Eagle Scout project that benefits the community and proposed placing a sign to identify and “draw some extra attention” to the Sallisaw rodeo grounds.

No action was taken by the commissioners, but will take the presentations under advisement.

City projects

• The Sallisaw Veterans Center will hold a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. Feb. 21. The final fire inspection has been conducted by federal inspectors, and one final city inspection will be completed before the dedication.

• QuikTrip construction is nearing completion, with a grand opening scheduled for March 6.

• Construction on the Stanley H. Collins Aquatic Center “is progressing as expected.” There have been weather delays, but construction is moving forward.

Financial update

• Sales tax for January was $707,000, an increase from January 2024 of $42,000

• Use tax for January was $133,000, an increase from January 2024 of $45,000

• The city is seven months into its fiscal year budget, which is 58% of its goals. For the general fund, the city has received 59% of revenue, and expenses are at 58%.

• For the Sallisaw Municipal Authority, taxes are at 65%, telecommunications at 57%, sanitation and landfill at 56%, electric services at 56%, and water and sewer at 71%. Total revenue at 65%. Overall estimated expenses are 47%.

• City staff is moving into budget season.

Administrative reports

• AMI water meters and materials are still outstanding • Electric AMI meters are not scheduled to be available until March

• Drake/Lenington Water Loop construction is underway • Animal control ordinance changes are coming. “I had a great meeting with the working group and Planning Commission subcommittee last week,” Heverly said. “We had a very positive meeting.” Target for bringing the revised ordinance for a vote is probably the April 14 meeting.

• McGee softball fields — Parks Department has laid gravel to improve drainage. As weather allows, staff will till the softball fields, add dirt and level them out “to get them back to public park standards.”

Sallisaw Municipal Authority

The Board of Trustees for the Sallisaw Municipal Authority reviewed items related to the sanitary sewer system improvements at the Country Club Lift Station.

On February 4, seven bids were received and opened. The apparent low bidder is Costa LLC with a bid of $338,400. After review and consideration, a contract will be awarded to Costa.

Other bids received were Rudy Box & Associates for $374,100, Sunrise Construction LLC for $457,851.50, Civil Builders for $460,146, Beytco Inc. for $481,205, Nabholz Construction Corp. for $497,610 and Goodwin & Goodwin for $512,875.

The SMA then approved:

• An amendment to the engineering contract between the SMA and Neel, Harvell and Associates for the East Drake Road water line extension project. The original contract did not include costs for submitting Department of Environmental Quality construction permits. Permits need to be submitted, which results in the engineer contract being revised.

• A request by city staff to purchase a Caterpillar D6 track dozer for the landfill from Warren Caterpillar #4269 of Tulsa in the amount of $540,123 via a 60-month lease-purchase agreement. Two quotes were received and reviewed. The low bid was from Stribling Equipment LLC of Fort Smith for a John Deere machine with a purchase price of $508,000. Both machines have a waste handler package, so they have extra guarding and reversible fans for the trash and dust, but the superintendent recommends the Caterpillar over the John Deere, despite the Cat being $32,123 more expensive. The specifications and characteristics of the two machines were compared, as well warranty periods and service costs, along with past experience using Cat machines at the landfill.

• A resolution agreeing to file application with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) for financial assistance through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, with the loan proceeds designated for the planning and designing of wastewater treatment plant improvements for the sanitary sewer system. Also approved were a legal services agreement and financial advisory agreement for the sanitary sewer system project.

• An engineering contract with Neel, Harvel and Associates in the amount of $1.4 million for engineering services on the wastewater treatment plant improvements-new wastewater treatment facility. The city is leveraging the consent order from DEQ to apply for and justify a grant application to pay for the design. The contract is needed for the grant application, and is written in a “subject to grant award” manner to allow the city to not execute if the grant isn’t won.