DEQ to help Cherokee with audit
Mayor Karen Hawkins called to order the Cherokee Development Authority meeting on January 13 at 6 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation led by Jeremy Hickman, City Clerk Amber Wilhite called the roll. All five Cherokee Development Authority members answered the roll.
The Authority considered the approval of the minutes from the December 9, 2020 meeting; Adrienne Wessells moved for approval, and David Collins seconded. The minutes were approved.
Following review of the claims list, Wessels made a motion to accept the list, and Lance Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Mike Jones presented the Manager’s Report. The Department of Environmental Quality will be assisting Cherokee in conducting a water loss audit, to determine if there are still any significant leaks. Data collection should be complete by the end of January. The generator for the lagoons is scheduled to arrive next week. It should be installed by the end of January.
There was no new business to be discussed. Miller moved to adjourn the meeting, and Wessels seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:07 p.m.
The Cherokee City Council meeting on January 13 was called to order at 6:07 p.m. All Council members answered the roll.
The Council considered the approval of the minutes from the December 9, 2020 regular meeting; Wessels moved for approval, and Miller seconded. The minutes were approved.
The Council considered the approval of the minutes from the December 23, 2020 special meeting. Miller made a motion to approve, and Hickman seconded the motion. Wessells abstained from voting, and the motion carried.
Following review of the claims list, Wessels made a motion to accept the list, and Miller seconded the motion. The motion carried.
City Manager Jones presented the Manager’s Report. We are scheduled to order the concrete truck next week; plan are to repair 2nd, 10th, 12th, S. Colorado, Oklahoma, and S. Euclid Streets. The City is working on preventative maintenance on all vehicles and equipment.
There have been sewer issues with several homes in town. We are working on determining if the problems are the City’s responsibility or the homeowners’ responsibilities.
Crews have finished painting parallel parking lines on several side streets near Grand; they have been cleaning the streets at the same time. The City is replacing old traffic signs throughout town; some signs are no longer easily visible. The City is also grading dirt roads in town and near the lagoons.
Jenny Regier, the new Librarian, began work right after Christmas. She is already preparing for the Summer Reading Program.
Mr. Jones attended a Fire Chief’s meeting on January 12, to show support for local departments. There is unofficial talk of additional CARES grant money geared toward PPE in March; we will apply any monies received toward additional SCBA equipment for firefighters and first responders. The Emergency Medical Responder class is going well. There are approximately 15 attendees, and graduation will be in mid-February. One firefighter is currently in quarantine due to a positive COVID test.
KanOkla is running fiber into City Hall; they are boring under the road near the old AEC building. Once the fiber is up and running, we will drop all but one AT&T line, which should reduce our telephone expenses greatly.
City Clerk Amber Wilhite reported the sale of one animal permit and two UTV permits during December. Overall, 2020 permit income is up from 2019.
Ryan McNeil presented the monthly Public Safety Report. During December, the Police Department responded to or initiated 233 service calls; the new officer has been very active. There were 21 criminal violations, collisions and other incidents, resulting in 19 reports being generated for various drug, theft, and abuse violations. Officers made three arrests. During December, the police department made 52 traffic stops.
Under new business, Miller mentioned that the corner of Ohio Street by the Sale Barn is a very dark corner, and asked about the possibility of adding a street light there. He also asked about surveying that is happening in the Northeast part of town, across the bridge by the park. It appears that this is being performed for a private citizen to determine a property line.
Hickman mentioned that the maps at the cemetery look really good. He also said that a lock is broken on one board, and should be replaced.
In response to a question regarding locations growing marijuana, Mr. Jones stated that any smell nuisances should be reported to City Hall.
Collins brought up the issue of concrete vs. asphalt to repair potholes around town. He stated that there are a lot of new potholes, and that Ohio Street is terrible. Mr. Jones stated that he is wanting to schedule quarterly safety meetings, and that the City is doing the best it can with very limited resources.
Miller made a motion to adjourn, and Jeremy Hickman seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.