Published: July 17, 2008 09:36 am            

Water rate increase not for pay raise

Pryor Municipal Utility Board General Manager Gary Pruett pointed out that water rates are not increasing to provide MUB employees with a pay raise.

Pryor City Council members approved a water rate increase in their Tuesday meeting. The rate increase of 25 cents per 1,000 gallons is effective July 1.

Oklahoma Ordinance Works Authority (OOWA) has raised rates for the third time because of the rising cost of chemicals used in water treatment. OOWA raises in June 2007 and January 2008 were under three cents, but the third increase beginning July 1 is 15 cents per 1,000 gallons. Pruett said MUB was unable to absorb the cost of the latest increase.

Pruett said the water rate increase is also due to raises in equipment and water testing costs. The Department of Environmental Quality mandates the water quality standards.

The new water rate for residential and commercial customers will be $2.75 per 1,000 gallons with the increase.

Council approved seeking requests for proposals for a financial advisor, architect and construction manager. The positions will be filled for the 2009 bond issue proposal to construct new city facilities. City Attorney Randy Elliott said interviews for recommendations will be held in late September. Elliott recommended a bond council be formed soon so they can help select applicants for the positions. Forms will be mailed to parties expressing interest in having the position of financial advisor, architect or construction manager. Elliott said the positions will be flexible. An architect, for example, may select one job or choose to tackle several projects.

Pryor Library is purchasing their surveillance system from Digi Surveillance Systems at a cost of $9,839.28.

“This is the best system,” said Risner. “The quality of the images are better.”

Risner explained the system can be expanded if more cameras are needed. Most of the cameras will be analog and fed into an encoder which digitalizes the images.

Risner based her request on the quality, capacity and expandibility of the system. Other bids came from Ages at $9,522.40 and Direct Communications at $10,495.

Council approved an expenditure of $4,060 to Settle Engineering for street depreciation evaluation. Mayor Jimmy Tramel said when streets are repaired an engineering company must depreciate the value and life expectancy placed on the streets. Buddy Glenn of the street department explained that law requires the department to make documentations of locations and dimensions of any repairs done on streets.

Council approved a fire protection agreement for last week’s Rocklahoma. Fire Chief Tim Thompson recommended the same fee and agreement made with Country Fever. A quick response vehicle and pumper truck were provided at a total cost of $1,000. Pryor Creek Music Festivals, Inc. paid firefighters $15 an hour for their services. Elliott clarified the agreement will be ratified for services already provided.

Trevor Cook will fill

the vacant dispatcher position at Pryor Police Department with an annual salary of $25,769. Cook begins dispatching July 16.

Tramel said the city workers have been spraying for mosquitos. He said the process has been “hampered by citizens’ inability to clean up their alleys.” The city will hold a summer cleanup July 23-26 at Pryor Waste & Recycling. Dumpsters will be available for citizens to drop off their trash. Tramel said tires, paint and batteries will not be accepted.

Council tabled a $5,000 Hotel/Motel grant reimbursement to American Legion Baseball for hosting their 2A state tournament. Tramel said the funds will be taken from last year’s reserve funds.

In other issues, council approved:

• The waiver of the community hall fee for Pryor Patcher’s Quilt Guild Aug. 26.

• The waiver of the community hall fee for a benefit lunch and dinner for Amanda Rutherford’s medical expenses, held

by Exciting Southeast Baptist Church July 17.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Bill Kannegiesser to Park Board Seat One, term expiring July 31, 2011.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Tim Dees to Park Board Seat Four, term expiring July 31, 2011.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Lori Siever to Park Board Seat Five, term expiring July 31, 2011.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Jerry Epperly to Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment/Multi-Hazard Mitigation Committe Seat Four, term expiring Aug. 31, 2011.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Steve Musgrave

to Planning and

Zoning Board of Adjustment/Multi-Hazard Mitigation Committe Seat Two, term expiring

Aug. 31, 2011.

• Tramel’s reappointment of Steve Riff to Pryor Creek Recreational Center Board Seat Two, term expiring Aug. 31, 2012.

• Expenditure of $13,829.96 to Oklahoma Municipal League for renewal of annual service fees.

• Expenditure of $8,000 from Hotel/Motel grant funds, reimbursing Green Country Girls Softball for dirt, fencing and bleacher work.

• Expenditure of $2,500 from 911 fund for onsite training on Computer Aided Dispatch at the police station.

• Expenditure of approximately $2,000 for Cardinal Tracking to connect the police department information to City Hall’s server in order to share citation and court data.

        

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