Council hears update following storm
The Cherokee Development Authority and City of Cherokee councils met at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24, for their second of two meetings in February.
The meeting was called to order with Adrienne Wessels, David Collins, Jeremy Hickman and Mayor Karen Hawkins present. Lance Miller was absent from the meeting.
The minutes from the Feb. 10 meeting were approved first followed by the claims lists.
City Manager Mike Jones gave his report:
• During the previous two weeks, the city received the following damage to the infrastructure:
– Motor on skid 2 at the RO Plant.
– Water well #8.
– Water main leak at 6th and Oklahoma.
– Telemetry at North Water Tower, causing the city to lose several thousand gallons of water.
– Leak at South Water Tower.
– Major leak at old City Hall.
• An insurance claim has been filed and the city is working on a cost estimate on repairs for the old City Hall.
• The failed RO motor and old trash pump at the lagoons has been sent to Kay Electric Motors to get an estimate on refurbishing.
• All 7 counties in Oklahoma were approved as disaster areas. The city is working on completing the necessary paperwork to submit for reimbursement.
• Jones had a meeting with Guernsey on Feb. 24 regarding the master water plan and they will have another to make some adjustments to the plan.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
The City of Cherokee meeting was immediately called to order.
The minutes from Feb. 10 and the claims list were approved first.
Next, the City of Cherokee Best Practice Handbook was discussed and approved.
There will be a training with OMAG on the handbooks at the end of the May 12 meeting. Also this training and handbook will allow the city to obtain $2,000 in funding every year.
At 6:14 p.m. the council convened into executive session to discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, salary, benefits, demotion or disciplining of City Manager Jones.
They returned to open session at 6:34 p.m. and approved the new employment contract with Jones.
Jones then gave his manager’s report:
• The city will received an additional $9,000 in FAA Cares Funding.
• Also the library received $6,000 in state funding.
• Of the 15 members of the fire department who attended the Emergency Medical Responder class, 12 passed. They will be scheduled to take their state test as soon as it is available.
• A survey was sent out for those south of 5th Street and West of Oklahoma and of the 136 sent out, they have received 27 back. This survey will help the city receive a grant. They need 110 back to even be qualified. The deadline is March 25.
• The police department hosted a regional training on Feb. 23.
• There are some upcoming trainings hosted by the Cherokee Police Department:
– February 23: affidavits and report writing.
– March 23: dealing with developmental disabilities.
– April 14, 15 and 21: exterior response to active shooter events.
– April 20: chemical assisted suicide.
– May 20-21: mass fatalities planning and response in rural communities.
– May 24: TASER instructor course.
– May 25: reaction, movement and response time.
-Also the city is working on hosting a reserve police academy.
• The police Tahoe was temporarily down due to a water pump. The water pump and belt have been replaced and the vehicle is back in service.
• The city is still waiting on the vehicle to be repaired that was in the accident on Jan. 15. They are waiting on parts that were delayed due to the weather. They are hopeful to have it back by Monday or Tuesday.