Snyder City Council and Public Works February regular meetings

Snyder Public Works Authority received recommendations for a new water plant from the water plant advisory committee at their regular meeting February 16 with Mayor Gary Anderson, council members Teresa Mills and Clay Oxley in attendance. Councilmen Bob Sproat and Spud Kirk were absent.

Randy Archer spoke for the committee, stating that their recommendation was strictly technical and funding options were up to the council. He said their findings indicate the best strategy for the city would be a reverse osmosis (RO) plant with well water to be blended with water from Tom Steed Reservoir.

The current facility is "close to disastrous," Archer said, and the city cannot continue to sell water to CKT in the future without going above and beyond Steed water. If the city opts to continue with only lake water, a less expensive chloramine plant used, but chloramine plants may only be accepted by DEQ for a few more years.

Just doing minimum repairs and upgrading the existing plant or going with a choloramine plant would only be a "bandaid" and something else would have to be done in another eight or nine years. Since the one thing Snyder can make money on is water, it seems sensible to build a water plant that will last into the future.

OERB, Rural Water Board, and federal stimulus money are possible sources of funding for a new facility. The authority will take action on the committee's recommendations at a special meeting Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m.
Also addressed at the meeting was a request from the Town of Mountain Park to have their water bill adjusted due to a faulty check valve causing their water usage to appear to be about three times normal. The authority agreed to allow them to pay an averaged bill with any needed adjustment to be made in April after the new valve has been installed.

City Clerk Tammy Biddle reported the second of two letters will be included in the March 1 water bills. She said there had been quite a bit of negative feedback about the letters, and explained that they are required by DEQ due to the water plant being under a consent order and should not be a cause for alarm.

Other business included approving resolutions for fees trash and community service and fire transfer fees, effective March 1; approval of minutes of the January 19 regular meeting, Feb. 5, special meeting, and Feb. treasurer's report; and encumbering payroll, first of month purchase orders, warrants and claims.
Fees for water and sewer service will be voted on at the March 1 special meeting.

Council conducts routine business, heated discussion

Snyder City Council convened in their regular monthly meeting at 8 p.m., February 16, following the Public Works Authority meeting. Mayor Gary Anderson and council members Teresa Mills and Clay Oxley were present; Bob Sproat and Spud Kirk were absent.

The council conducted routine business, approving resolutions establishing fees for trash service, community service and fire transfer fees effective March 1; appointing the water superintendent (Mark Shelton) as Floodplain Administrator; approving final contract for trash service with IESI; and amending an ordinance relating to employee holiday fringe benefits due to Columbus day being removed from the city calendar as a holiday. Also approved was a statement of "Intent to Continue Participation with Red River Transportation Service."

An ordinance amending the amount the mayor, vice mayor or other city official designated by the city council as purchasing officer, is allowed to spend without council approval from $7,500 to $2,500 was approved. Mayor Anderson suggested the amount be lowered to $5,000, but was overruled.

The council voted to advertise for a swimming pool manager and agreed that no contractor will be needed for maintenance and repairs to the pool.

The Animal Control Officer duty description was reviewed and approved, which also assigns the ACO as Snyder Code Enforcement Officer, responsible for enforcement of non-related federal, state, and local statutes and names him to assist other departments with non-routine issues as determined immediately necessary by mayor or other department heads and to perform non-related work as required. The council tabled sending ACO Jerry Taylor to a code enforcement training pending further study. Evidently the state legislature voted in 2008 to require training for any officer who enforces local or state statutes.

The council agreed to utilize inmate labor to complete basic repairs and tune-up of the animal control truck.

Minutes of the Jan. 19 regular meeting and Feb. 5 special meeting and Feb. treasurer's report were approved. Minutes of a Feb. 2 emergency meeting were questioned by Mayor Anderson. He asked city attorney Shane McLaury if it was a legal meeting since he was not notified of the meeting. The meeting was called during the ice storm by Vice Mayor Teresa Mills and two council members who were all at city hall. McLaury stated there was a quorum so it was okay, but suggested in the future that an attempt should be made to contact all council members. The minutes were approved with Mayor Anderson casting a "no" vote.

Payroll of $24,563.17 and first of the month purchase orders, warrants and claims totaling $61,835.47 were encumbered. It was noted that this figure includes payment of some past due bills and taxes which are being caught up from 2008.

Under new business Mills asked why the item "Pursuant to Section 1-150 of Snyder Code of Ordinances (1988), regarding the removal of officers from office (Mayor)," she had requested be on the agenda was removed. Mayor Anderson stated he was under the impression that it required a 10 day notice, but McLaury said it does not. Anderson apologized and said it would be placed on the Mar. 1 special meeting agenda.

Resolution 2010-2

A resolution by the trustees of the Snyder, Oklahoma Public Works Authority, establishing fees for trash service.

Trash, per month:
Per residential customer polycart                                                      $20.15
Per additional residential plolycart                                                    $  5.95
Per commercial cart, one lift/week                                                    $25.20
Per commercial size, 2 Cubic Yard (dumpster), one lift/week      $50.40
Per commercial size, 4 Cubic Yard, one lift/week                            $74.40
Per commercial size, 6 Cubic Yard, one lift/week                          $100.80
Per commercial size, 8 Cubic Yard, one lift/week                          $114.00

Resolution 2010-3

A resolution by the trustees of the Snyder, Oklahoma Public Works Authority, establishing community service and fire department transfer fees.

Park                        $   .75
Police                      $ 1.50
Street & Alley        $3.00
Cemetery               $   .75
Fire                         $ 1.00