Council hires police chief, gives raises

The August Snyder City Council meeting was held Monday night at the community building with all council members present except Clay Oxley.

Under public participation several citizens had comments:

• Carol Middick reported she had recently visited the school and learned enrollment is up, possibly due to BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure). She suggests the city should consider ways to capitalize on an increase in local population.
• Teresa Mills asked about the method of inmate worker transportation, having heard complaints about the inmates riding in the bed of the city pickup. Mayor Gary Anderson said regulations allow them to ride there as long as they are sitting down inside the bed and the weather is clear.
• Patti Mountford spoke of problems at the swimming pool such as cleanliness and life guards not following regulations. She stated she is willing to work all winter to help prepare the pool for next summer.
• Connie Tubbs said the police department should help the community, not hurt it. He had a problem with interim police chief Johnny McBee not allowing him to drive a vehicle home for a friend who had been arrested.

Fairlawn Cemetery Association requested assistance to pay for mowing for the rest of the year. The city usually budgets $2000 to go toward the mowing each year, but it was overlooked in this year's budget. City attorney Shane McLaury reminded the council of a fund to help with cemetery expenses. City clerk Lori Glassco said fifty cents from each water bill is earmarked for the cemetery fund. The council voted to give the association $2,000 and to check into how much is in this fund.

The council also agreed to increase the wages for cemetery sexton, Chylene Killian, from $50 per month to $75.

There was no report from Jackie Graves, city CPA, due to the 2007-08 audit not being finished yet by Crawford & Associates. Graves is checking to see if they can be penalized for the delay. The council plans to investigate finding a new CPA to replace Crawford.

No bids were received on the library roof. It will be advertised again, and flyers will be sent to area roofing companies with bid specs.

In an operations briefing for the police department McBee reported less problems with speeders and traffic violations. He reminds everyone to be aware of the school zones, where there will be little tolerance for speeding. He said the state encourages local police departments to be vigilant in the school zones.

The police department is working on creating a Safe Haven program in town, with businesses and homes agreeing to be a place where children can go if they need help. They also are planning a Child ID program at a later date.

Animal Control officer Jerry Taylor said he has been working to eliminate skunks around town, having had five animals test positive for rabies at the beginning of the summer.

He's also working to get the stray dogs under control. The department has obtained a net for small dogs and a trap for the larger ones.

I was on the agenda and had already briefed the council on my dog problems. I told them that the strays are still loose in my neighborhood. I asked if they had any method to capture a vicious or attacking animal, and was told that the only recourse they have is to shoot them.

The mayor said he has studied the animal regulations for the city which include requiring rabies vaccination and a city tag. He said they will be enforcing these rules and will be picking up all strays. The animal control facility is being repaired and will be used to hold dogs for 72 hours before they are taken to Altus.

Taylor had presented a list of needs for the facility which included an outbuilding to store food and tools, a larger fence, and a water mister. Councilmember Teresa Mills stated she feels the pound should provide shade, shelter, food and water - basics only - and the rest is not needed. Mayor Anderson said he would consider her suggestions when working on the facility.

Minutes and treasurer's report of the July meeting were approved, and payroll, first of the month purchase orders, and warrants and claims were encumbered.

Following a lengthy executive session the council voted to hire Johnny McBee as police chief at $14.50/hour with a 43 hour work week. Terry Taylor will be assistant chief with a salary of $11.25/hr. and a 43 hour week. Both positions are pending further background checks.

Animal control officer Jerry Taylor was granted a 25 cent per hour raise, to $8.25/hr; water works operator Robbie Christon's pay was raised to $9.25/hr and Lori Glassco will receive $11.25/hr. Votes on all but Glassco were unanimous, with Mills voting "no" on her raise. Action on Sherry Krause was tabled.

Glassco submitted her letter of resignation to be read at next month's meeting, along with a draft of a job description for her post. She and her husband will be leaving after the first of the year for Alaska, where he will be stationed.

Public Works Authority
The council reconvened as the Snyder Public Works Authority with Mayor Anderson reporting that five or six weeks ago the only working pump on the main lift station failed. A loaner was obtained from Weatherford until a new pump could be purchased and installed. Following installation of the new pump the company repaired two old pumps, giving the city two operating and two for backup, at a cost of around $10,000.

You may have noticed you did not receive a water bill for the past month. A computer hardware malfunction prevented the July bills from being printed. Water customers may call city hall or go by to find out what their bill was and pay it. Unpaid bills will be added to next month, but no late payment penalties will be charged. Additional software modules are being considered to further streamline the accounting process.

The PWA approved July minutes and treasurer's report; encumbered payroll, first of the month purchase orders, warrants and claims; and tabled a rate increase for Rural Water District #4 before adjourning.