BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR SESSION HELD MARCH 11, 2024

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners met in regular session on March 11, 2024. Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Commissioners Stephanie Austin, Robert Bodick, Garrett Bowers and Kelsey Wagner were in attendance.

Under Ceremonies and Proclamations, Mayor Nicholson presented an Arbor Day Proclamation and urged all citizens to celebrate and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands; and further, to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.

The character trait of Decisiveness was also introduced for the month of March and defined as processing information and finalizing difficult decisions.

Commissioner Wagner was elected Vice-Mayor in accordance with provisions of Section 60 of the City Charter.

Under the Consent Agenda, the City Commission approved the minutes of the Ponca City Board of Commissioners regular session held February 26, 2024; a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the City of Ponca City; a resolution appointing members to various boards and commissions and establishing the terms of office; and an advertisement of bids for the installation of new traffic signal controller assemblies and replacement of wiring at eight signalized intersections.

Under Reports, City Manager Craig Stephenson welcomed Commissioner Stephanie Austin to her first City Commission meeting as a sitting City Commissioner and also welcomed Commissioner Robert Bodick back to the Commission dais.

Stephenson reported that beginning Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Fairview Avenue will be closed to traffic at approximately 400 feet north of the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Patton Drive to allow for connection of a sanitary sewer service line for a new development at this location. The road will be closed for approximately one week barring any delays due to inclement weather. Any questions regarding this road closure may be directed to Stuever Dirtworks, LLC at 580-362-0649 or to the City Engineering department at 580-767-0383.

Stephenson announced that the Ponca Politics Oklahoma Legislators Forum will be held on Friday, March 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Chamber of City Hall. Speakers will include: Representative Pfeiffer, Representative Luttrell, and Senator Coleman. (Open to the public.)

Stephenson reminded everyone that the annual City-Wide Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, April 6. For this one day only, the City will waive the regular requirements for a garage sale, the $5.00 permit is not required, and the garage sale will not be counted toward the yearly limit of two. Residents who hold garage sales on this day are encouraged to place the leftovers out at their regular trash pickup spot for proper disposal or donate them to a local charity. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held on Saturday, April 13.

Stephenson also reminded everyone that the annual Spring Clean-Up event will be held April 6 thru April 13 for Ponca City residents. Solid Waste crews will pick up most trash and haul it away, or residents can haul it to the Landfill themselves and get rid of it for free.

Solid Waste crews will pick up any extra items placed in the regular pickup area except the following: poisons, acids, and caustics; car batteries; explosives; body wastes; large bulky objects such as automobile frames; tires; items or materials containing freon, PCB, etc.; items that could cause damage to collection equipment or personal injury to collectors; dirt, rocks, concrete and other debris resulting from construction or demolition; dead animals, animal excreta, etc. that has not been wrapped and tightly sealed in moisture proof wrapping; logs greater than 8 inches in diameter and longer than 4 feet or weighing more than 75 pounds; brush that is not bundled, longer than 4 feet in length and weighing more than 75 pounds; and containers larger than 35 gallons. Trees, brush, construction debris, etc. may be disposed of by calling 580-767-0411 for a special pickup. Special pickups carry a minimum charge of $42.69 and could be more depending on quantity and items for disposal.

Citizens must present a current PCUA bill with trash service and driver’s license at the Landfill. The Landfill is located at 2501 W. Riverview Road and hours of operation are Monday thru Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is a limit of 6 loads per resident, with loads defined as: Pickup bed = 1 load; Pickup bed + single axle trailer = 2 loads; and Pickup bed + double axel trailer = 3 loads. In an effort to discourage unauthorized commercial dumping, vehicles larger than a pickup or trailer will be charged standard landfill fees. Residents wanting to dispose of tires must take the tires to the designated area for tires at the Landfill, as City crews will not pick up tires. The Landfill will accept tires that are 24 inches or smaller, but tires on rims, tractor tires, and heavy equipment tires will not be accepted.

The Recycling Center is located at 1001 W. Prospect Avenue and hours of operation are Wednesday thru Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Recycling Center accepts car batteries, latex paint, clean glass, clean tin cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, aluminum cans, books, and mixed metals. For more information, call 580-485-8884.

Stephenson announced that the City of Ponca City and Phillips 66 will hold the bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, on Saturday, April 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event will be held in the Phillips 66 parking lot at Oak Street and South Avenue. Items accepted include: cleaning products such as laundry, oven, wood, metal, toilet, bathroom, drain, and pool; automotive products such as motor oil in disposable container, fuel additive, carburetor cleaner, air conditioning refrigerants, starter fluid, auto batteries, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze; lawn and garden products such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides; indoor pesticides such as fungicides, ant spray/bait, roach spray/ bait, flea repellent and shampoo, bug spray, houseplant insecticide, moth repellents, and mouse/rat poison/bait; flammable products such as kerosene, home heating oil, diesel fuel, lighter fluid, gas/oil mix, workshop/paint supplies, wood preservatives, adhesives/glues, furniture stripper, oil/enamel paint, stains and finishes, paint thinner/turpentine, paint stripper/remover, photographic chemicals, fixatives and solvents, and driveway sealer; and miscellaneous items such as over-the-count medication; rechargeable batteries, ammunition, and electronic/computer equipment. Items not accepted include: medical waste, hypodermic needles, radioactive materials, dynamite, explosives, compressed gas cylinders, commercial waste, tires, any container over 5 gallons, and kitchen appliances.

Stephenson reminded everyone that AARP is offering free tax service until April 13, 2024 at the Ponca City Library. Appointments can be scheduled at the Reference Desk or by calling 580-767-0345 to make an appointment. Tax packets are available at the Reference Desk.

Stephenson announced that the City of Ponca City will celebrate Earth Day 2024 on Monday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Unity Gym, located at 1908 E. Woodland Road. Citizens are invited to attend and receive educational information about composting, recycling, energy savings and storm water pollution prevention. Residents may bring personal papers for safe document shredding between 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., but no commercial shredding. Free trees to plant will be available on a first come basis.

Stephenson reported that a City Commission work session will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024 and Commission budget hearings will be held on April 15 and 16, 2024.

Zach Trantham, Tourism Coordinator for the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the Ponca City Tourism Review. The mission of the Ponca City Tourism Bureau is to promote and market Ponca City attractions and events and board members include Debra Rue (chair), Terri Sherbon, Dawn Brakey, Suzanne Devinney, and Brad Fox. Trantham reported that tourism is the third-largest industry in Oklahoma, with an $11.8 billion impact in 2022. Trantham also reviewed several tourism strategies, including partnerships and sponsorships; social media; travel/trade shows, such as the American Bus Association Marketplace 2024; tourism publications, and website updates.

Under New Business, the City Commission authorized advertisement of bids for Street Improvement Project No. SST 24-6. This is a project to mill and overlay three City streets: Union Street from Highland Avenue to Liberty Avenue, First Street from Grand Avenue to Highland Avenue, and Mockingbird Drive from its intersection with Kyme Drive to approximately 1150’ east. All projects will include fabric reinforcement and the Mockingbird Drive project will include deeper crack repair prior to the final overlay. Spot base patching will be included on each street as needed. The total project area is approximately 24,400 square yards. All asphalt millings will be retained by the City and used primarily for alley maintenance, utility cut repairs and pothole patching. Bid advertisement will begin March 21, 2024 and bids will open April 11, 2024. Start of construction will be late April to mid-May, 2024. There are 60 calendar days allotted for this project, that is funded by the Street Improvement Sales Tax.

PCUA (PONCA CITY UTILITY AUTHORITY)

Under the PCUA Consent Agenda, the PCUA Trustees approved the minutes of the PCUA regular session held February 26, 2024 and a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against the PCUA of Ponca City, Oklahoma.