City council approves three propositions
The Cherokee City Council met for a special meeting on Feb. 4.
The purpose of the meeting was to approve placing three propositions on the April 6 ballot.
The three propositions are as follows:
• Proposition 1: Ordinance No. 2021-01 proposes certain amendments to Article IV, Section VI of the Cherokee City Charter. The Charter currently requires Commission meetings to be held semi-monthly and requires a meeting to be held on the first Monday following the general election. Ordinance No. 2021-01 deletes those requirements but provides that all meetings of the Commission, whether regular, special or emergency, shall be called, held and governed under the terms of the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act, as provided by Title 25, Sections 301 through 314 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or as such Act may be hereinafter amended.
• Proposition 2: Ordinance No. 2021-02 proposes certain amendments to Article XXI of the Cherokee City Charter. The Charter currently permits up to $50,000.00 per calendar year of the principal of the Cherokee Electric System Sales Fund to be used to match state and federal grants for certain capital improvement projects. Ordinance No. 2021-02 provides for an increase of such amount to not greater than $100,000.00 per calendar year and eliminates the requirement that such monies must be used to match a federal or state grant. The monies may only be used to construct, repair and replace necessary street, water, sewer, drainage, airport, fire, economic development and/or park capital improvements.
• Proposition 3: Ordinance No. 2021-03 proposes certain amendments to Article VI, Section III of the Cherokee City Charter. This charter provision requires the competitive bidding of the City’s banking depositories in a bank or banks of the city and requires such depositories to pay the City interest at not less than 3% per annum. Ordinance No. 2021-03 deletes these requirements but provides the Commissioners have a written investment policy providing for the investment of public monies pursuant to state law and further authorizes the transfer of all or a part of these monies to the Cherokee Development Authority to be invested in accordance with a written investment policy as authorized by state law.
The three items were approved to be placed on the ballot on April 6 along with the race for mayor between incumbent Karen Hawkins and Kolby Arnold.
The Cherokee Development Authority met at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10, for their bi-monthly meeting.
The meeting was called to order with Jeremy Hickman, Adrienne Wessels and David Collins present.
The CDA agenda consisted of the minutes, claims lists and January 2021 financials as prepared RsMeacham CPA’s. All three items were approved.
City Manager Mike Jones gave his report:
• The state legislation passed another open meeting act change that allows for teleconference, it was signed by the governor.
•The Department of Environmental Quality began their water loss audit.
The annual apparent water losses (paper losses via metering issues, etc.) is 2.982 million gallons per year.
The current annual real water losses (water lost due to leaks, line breaks and overflows) is 68.735 million gallons per year.
• Non-revenue water as percent by volume of water supplied is 63.2 percent.
• Real water loss percentage (of total water supplied) experienced by the system is 55.2 percent.
• The generator for the lagoon is installed and working properly.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
The City of Cherokee meeting was immediately called to order.
The Jan. 27 regular meeting, Jan. 27 public hearing, Feb. 4 special meeting, claims lists and 2021 financials were all approved first.
Jones gave his report:
• Jones presented the council with a copy to look over for the best practices handbook and OMAG Recognition Program.
• Three full-time employees and one part-time employee tested positive for Covid. When the employees are able to return back-to-work, the lobby of City Hall will be reopened to the general public.
• Cherokee High School had a significant water leak in the sports complex near the Field House. When the weather is warmer, city crews will assist school district with in-kind services in attempt to locate the leak.
• The Cherokee Fire Department assisted in running calls for Waynoka Fire Department last week as the department was mourning the loss of two fireman.
Members of the Cherokee Fire Department represented the City of Cherokee for the funerals of Chief Lonnie Bolar and Tayler Bradford that were held on Friday, Feb. 5.
• Chief of Police Ryan McNeil presented the police report.
• City Clerk Amber Wilhite presented the permits and licensing.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.