Dog mauled by strays

Sad news this a.m. My dad called to tell me our dog, Mater, has been beaten up and probably has a broken leg. There's been a stray female dog hanging around outside our fence for the past few weeks. She came in heat and a pack of male dogs showed up, causing my dog to get out and get hurt.

I had contacted City Hall numerous times to try to get her away from my fence. Before we left town, the female had gotten in my yard, so I called and the dog catcher, Jerry Taylor, came to get her. He couldn't catch her and she hid under the porch. He said he would come back later with help, but he never showed. Later that evening, she just jumped my fence and left.

I was afraid of this very thing happening. None of my dogs had ever shown any interest in getting out before, but females in heat cause problems. That's why I tried to get her gone before I left town last Thursday.

Now here I am out of state and my parents and brother-in-law are having to deal with the mess. My mom said it's been awful all weekend with the dogs hanging around and ours being stirred up.

I spent over $1500 to build a fence (not to mention Harley's labor) so that my dogs would stay where they belong. Mater is a sweet teddy bear of a dog that never hurts a thing. Now he's laying at the vets possibly near death because someone else couldn't keep their dog penned up.

I'm wondering what we're paying a dog catcher to do. And who we call when the dog catcher can't catch the dog?

City sets budget at $1,391,266

I went to the City of Snyder budget meeting Monday night, but I was about 10 minutes late (had an unexpected visitor at home) and they were already finished.

The council voted to adopt the $1,391,266 budget as proposed. I wonder what my granddad, who was mayor when I was born, would have said if you'd told him Snyder would one day have a budget over a million dollars?

The budget includes:
City Hall - $140,400
Animal Control - $11,120
Fire Department - $24,750
Street & Alley - $69,810
Park - $14,070
Police Department - $132,518
Swimming Pool - $37,650
Water & Sanitation - $899,948
Sewer Enterprise - $61,000

The meeting was held at the community building to accommodate public and citizen participation and comments before the vote. Sadly, the only ones present besides the council were Carol Middick from the Kiowa County Democrat and OT Brooks. One could say that Snyder citizens have so much faith in their council that they see no need to oversee it, but I'm afraid general apathy is more the cause. I find it very sad that people do not attend the council meetings. It's our city, our government and our responsibility to pay attention to what's going on.

People need to stop believing that the town will just always be here, providing a place for them to live while they spend their time shopping and eating and playing out of town. You are leaving the town in the hands of a few, expecting water to come out of your faucets and streets to be maintained and your trash to be hauled away, with no input whatsoever. Oh, wait, some do put in their "two cents" - in complaints to each other when they meet at the post office, or at church or school functions.

The new mayor and council appreciate hearing from citizens. You don't have to have a complaint to attend meetings. Being there to support the council is just as important.

We have a very good example of what happens when no one pays attention. Let's see what we can become with some support and participation and constructive criticism! Snyder is at a crossroads. It can continue to stagnate, or move forward. It's up to you.

Snyder council learns about water issues, has varied agenda Monday night

The Snyder City Council and 10+ interested citizens heard an informative talk from Randy Archer, manager of the Mountain Park Master Conservancy District, at Monday night's regular council meeting.

Mountain Park Master Conservancy District manages the water in Tom Steed Reservoir, which supplies water to Snyder and Mountain Park. Water from the lake is also used by Altus, Frederick, and the Comanche County Rural Water District. Archer reported 89.42% of the allocated water is used, leaving only about 11% surplus. He urged the city council to be very cautious with their water and to consider all the repercussions of transferring any more water from the local basin.

Two bids received for the surplus Chevy fire truck were from Charles Moore for $250.00 and Mike Horn - $326.50. The council voted to accept Horn's high bid.

Mayor Gary Anderson reported the library roof is in dire need of repair and a motion was made to solicit bids for the roof with all members voting yes.
The issue of rain water drainage was mentioned again. Anderson said there are several problem areas, including 2nd & F and 1st & D streets which DEQ has requested be addressed. He hopes to be able to study the drainage problems before the next meeting.

In public participation Jim Moore commended the new mayor and council members for taking an interest in the town, and mentioned the need for street repairs. Sam Hargrove suggested bug lites in the alleys to control the mosquitoes, and Maxine Hargrove asked about the hole in their alley where the trash truck had gotten stuck. Mayor Anderson replied that he has it on his work list, but it takes time to get to everything.

Following a half hour executive session the council voted to give a 50 cent raise to animal control officer Jerry Taylor and 75 cents to water superintendent Mark Shelton, with an additional 75 cents following his licensing. Coy Morrow was confirmed as a full-time water department employee and the council agreed to create a fifth position in the water department.

Police Chief Joe Janz reported no problems in his department, with Officer McBee and the reserves about to graduate from certification training.
Fire Chief Bill Graves voiced concern about abandoned property being a fire and health hazard with overgrown grass and weeds creating rodent and mosquito infestations and causing property values to decrease. Mayor Anderson replied that the council was looking into requirements for abatement.

Carol Middick stated that a skunk is living in the old Alamo theater and kids have kicked in the door and been going in and out. Animal Control Officer Taylor promised to check it out.

The May 18 minutes and treasurer's report and encumbrances for first of the month purchase orders, warrants and claims were approved.

Mayor Anderson asked that the council meet next Monday, June 22, for a budget planning session prior to a special meeting on June 29 to finalize the budget for the coming year. It was suggested that the planning session should also be a special meeting to satisfy the state's open meeting act. Anderson said he would find out if it was legal to have the planning session and let the council members know by middle of the week.

The council meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. and Snyder Public Works Authority meeting was called to order.

SPWA rates were discussed with the mayor stating that the city's trash cost had increased approximately 4% after the first of the year and the previous council had agreed to absorb the cost. He suggested reducing the base water usage from 2000 gallons/month to 1500 and implementing a 5% increase to be charged for amounts over the base in order to offset that increase and prevent the rates having to be increased more the next time the cost goes up. It was voted to table the increase until after the budget meetings.

Jerry Taylor's suggestion to charge for use of the roll-off boxes to offset some of the cost was met with disapproval. Patti Mountford stated she has to haul her trash to the roll-offs because there has been no dumpster near her house since the new highway was built. Anderson offered to see if anything can be done to replace her dumpster.

After being open over the weekend, the municipal swimming pool still has some issues with algae which came from the water jets and clouded the water. Pool manager Cheryl Rhodes stated the chemical tests were ok and they are shocking the water to try to remove the algae. Although it poses no health risks, the murky water is hard to see through, so the pool will not open until it clears up.

Mountford commented on the lack of maintenance on the pool and all areas of the city, especially the neglect of the previous administration to start earlier getting the pool ready for the 2009 season. She also praised the work the inmates did in helping with the repairs. Anderson stated he already has a maintenance list started for next winter.

Middick suggested that the city needs to vote a bond to finance city maintenance and repairs, with Mountford replying that she felt Snyder would never go for a bond which would raise property taxes.
Mayor Anderson clarified that Snyder does not get revenue from ad valorem (property) taxes, that repayment of a bond would have to come from an increase in charges for services (water, sewer, trash) or a sales tax increase.

The mayor thanked the citizens for attending and the meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m. Council members in attendance were Bob Sproat, Teresa Mills and Clay Oxley. Spud Kirk was absent.

Coming events and other info

I'm going to try to keep a local "Coming Events" section here on my blog page, so if anyone has an organization or club meeting or other event, please let me know. If there is a website with more info for any events or meetings, be sure and include that and I can link it.

Also, if you have a website pertaining to local people, places, or things, email me and I'll include it on my links list. (I do reserve the right to determine which sites are included - inappropriate links will not be accepted.)

The internet seems to be becoming the best way to keep informed, so I'm trying to make a place where Snyder and Mountain Park people can keep up with what's happening and where. The more info people send me, the better. Please bear with me, tho, I'm flying by the seat of my pants here and it's all trial and error. If I mess up, do tell me and I'll do my best to fix it. If I'm doing good, please share my blog with others.

Election Results

Snyder voters elected a new mayor and two new council members in yesterday's city election.

Gary Anderson received the nod for mayor with 151 votes to incumbent Buster Spurlin's 86 votes and 56 for Allen Ford.

Bob Sproat replaces Sammie Gettens in the Ward I council position. Sproat received 153 votes and Gettens had 137.

The Ward IV seat will be occupied by Teresa Mills, who received 142 votes to Wayne Bates, 97, and Frank Tucker, 57.

Clayton Oxley retains his seat in Ward II with 134 votes. Joe Powell received 100 votes for the position and Skye Perry, 57.

Snyder Fire Department

Yesterday afternoon the fire whistle blew several times in an unusual sequence. I thought it sounded different, and knew everyone would be wondering, so I called city hall to find out what was going on, then sent out an email to my local list telling them that they had installed new sirens and were testing them.

It's so hard to get any kind of information out in Snyder without a local TV or radio station. (I know, we do have a somewhat local radio station, but I don't think many people listen to the radio unless there's a ball game on.) Anyway, I did have a comment from someone at the awards assembly last night thanking me, and I received this email from the fire chief this morning, so maybe the internet is the best way to communicate these days.

Dear Dee,

I am Bill Graves the Snyder Fire Chief.Someone forwarded your email to me.Just thought I would send you an email to clarify the new storm sirens.These sirens are operated by radio.There is a new base radio in city hall and one in the fire station.The new sirens are located on the south part of town near the old Phillips 66 gas station and the second is located at the coop on the north end of town. the new base radios can activate the sirens for storm or fires.In the future we hope to get hand-held radios so that fireman out storm spotting can sound the sirens without having to go to city hall or the fire station. The old sirens are still hooked up to the switch in city hall.They can not be activated by radio and will only be used in case we need to amplify the new sirens. All sirens working together should give people much needed warning in case of tornadoes.In the future we would like to get away from using the sirens for fire calls.Just to alleviate any confusions.That will mean getting better hand-held radios that can page fireman also.
I would like to add that these new sirens were acquired through a grant that former city clerk Faye Dwyer and former councilman Allen Ford worked on for four years before their departure from city hall.It has taken a while to receive the grant but it finally came through.The sirens cost the city nothing.After all these years it is nice to have better sirens that also have battery back up.So if we loose power,we still have sirens.May we not need to use them in the near future.But if needed we can warn citizens of dnagers before it is too late.

Bill Graves
Fire Chief
Snyder Fire Department

I appreciate getting a response from someone in the know, with the correct information.

I had known there were supposed to be new sirens obtained from a grant, but never knew what had become of them. I'm glad they're finally being put to use.

I'd like to use this space to disseminate local information when I have it. Please let me know your thoughts on this method, and feel free to share my blog with others on your list.

Snyder City Council - Okla. Legislature - Sheesh!

Goodness gracious, just when you think it can't get any crazier!
The city council of Snyder put up the wrong fire truck for bids!!! The fire dept. had stripped equipment from and abandoned a 1968 Chevy and the council was to put it up as surplus property for bids. Instead, they declared a 1963 C700 Ford truck which was still being used as surplus property and the bids were to be opened at last Monday's council meeting. On top of that, the legal notice for the bids did not contain the disclaimer about the right to reject bids, so legally the bid should have to be accepted!
The newspaper reported "The opening of bids was tabled until City Attorney Shane McLaury could search for a possible solution."
I'm just shaking my head. Now if this is not an indication that the whole city government needs an overhaul, I don't know what is!
If that is not enough, in the same story, same meeting, under public participation, the paper stated "Mike Adler, Water Superintendent, 'I just wanted you to know I quit.'" No details or letter of resignation. I'm going to have to investigate to see what happened to cause the city's most valuable employee to give it up. When you have a dedicated worker like Mike,who has stuck with the city through a lot of craziness, you need to work to keep him.
Add to all that citizen complaints about harassment by the police dept. and the fact that in our little town of under 1500 population the police dept. shows eight employees drawing a total of over $8800 in the month of March. Other city hall employees drew $6500 and the water plant and public works payroll for the same pay period was a little over $7200.
Now to me that balance indicates that we require more police protection than we do people running the city's business and keeping our streets, water and sewer in order. Have we had a recent crime wave I'm unaware of? I know we still have potholes in the streets, issues at the water plant, and various other physical problems in town.
On one hand we have a group trying to form a chamber of commerce to bring in shoppers and business and industry and on the other we have reports that out-of-town people avoid driving through our town because of fear of getting a traffic fine. I haven't noticed a bunch of out-of-control speeding wreckless drivers around Snyder, have you?
People, we need to get our priorities straight here! There's an election coming up - everyone needs to pay close attention and exercise their votes!

I also have to share my opinion of the Oklahoma legislature this session. What a joke! Hardly any bills with impact have been addressed, but we have been made a laughing stock by several such as the stem cell research bill, with the Republicans wanting to make it a crime for a scientist to perform any form of embryonic stem cell research even tho the bill would do nothing to stop an abortion or save a single life, but does threaten life-saving research and unjustly criminalizes scientists who perform important work.
Scientists believe such research could yield new treatments or cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, blindness, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, spinal cord injuries and a variety of other ailments.
The research utilizes unused embryonic stem cells, or blastocysts, originally created to assist couples in their effort to have children. Because in vitro fertilization procedures often create multiple blastocysts for a single couple, many are unused and ultimately destroyed and discarded. HB 1326 criminalizes and punishes a scientist who, with the couple’s consent, elects to conduct stem cell research with an unused blastocyst before it is destroyed.
State business and research leaders also warned that by criminalizing legitimate scientific study, HB 1326 would have a chilling effect on Oklahoma’s research community, particularly on the scientists who perform the life-saving research. HB 1326 would also discourage research-based industries from continuing to locate in Oklahoma, dealing a major blow to long-running efforts to make the state a beacon of bioscience and high-technology research.
Thank goodness for Gov. Brad Henry's decision to stand up against all the Republican claptrap and veto the bill.
Gov. Henry's statement

Then the do-gooders had to turn around and try to pull another stupid stunt by voting a down a resolution that made the Flaming Lip’s “Do You Realize?” the state’s official rock song. In a statewide Internet vote held late last year, that song was the choice of 51 percent of more than 21,000 votes cast.
The song was selected to be on a list of songs by Oklahoma artists and the people voted. The time to object would have been before that list was released. Luckily the legislature's approval is not needed and Gov. Brad Henry will sign an executive order Tuesday, April 28, naming the Flaming Lips song, “Do You Realize??,” as the official rock song of Oklahoma.
For more info read this story on The Lost Ogle