The Altus Municipal Authority (AMA) and City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. All members were present except Chad Osborne.

During the City Council meeting, members discussed a proposed resolution that would have amended the City’s Personnel and Policies Procedures Manual. It would have changed an ordinance to delete smoking rooms from City buildings, to make City buildings and grounds (parking lots/sidewalks) City vehicles and equipment tobacco free. It would have revised the penalty section as to smoking violations. These proposed changes would have allowed the City to apply to become a merit Oklahoma Certified Healthy Communities City and to apply for grants totaling $42,000 as part of this process. These grants could also receive matching grants if applied to certain projects such as walking trails for tourism. When it appeared to Simco and Smiley that the only ones who were really being challenged by the changes were City employees, Smiley made a motion to table the issue until July 1, 2013. That was voted down by a four to three vote. Those voting against the motion to table were: Rick Steen, Rick Henry, B.F. Jr. Rowland, and Mike Patterson. More discussion ensued. Tonya Pogue, the Tobacco Coordinator for the Jackson County Health Department explained that Nov. 1 was the deadline for the grant application for this year. The final vote on the matter was approved to refer it back to the committee, or Task Force. The grant application will not be possible this year.

During the AMA, Scot Simco wished to exclude two items from the Consent Agenda. The rest of the agenda was approved. It included: minutes for the Altus Municipal Authority Meeting on Oct. 2; from the Old Budget approval of purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Enterprise Fund totaling $1,775; from the New Budget approval of purchase orders for FY 2012-2013 for the Enterprise Fund totaling $1,889,159.76. One of the items Simco wanted excluded was the bypass pump controls for the computer board at the waste water plant. The other regarded purchasing gravel when the City already has a big pile of gravel behind Fox’s. Bob Stephenson spoke to both issues. He referred Simco to the Street Superintendent, Holmes Willis on the gravel. Both items were approved.

Dan Scott asked the trustees to vote to authorize the purchase of five Landis & Gyr E850 MAXSYS Elite High End Energy Revenue meters from Stuart Irby of Ft. Worth, Texas at a price of $13,125.00 and waive competitive pricing under Section 2-84 Altus Code as a single source item. This was approved since the old ones were installed in 1993 or 1995 per Scott.

The trustees also voted to authorize electrical service to S & D Farms, Inc. for an irrigation pump house located outside the city limits (West Ridgecrest and 1685 CR.) The pump house is located just outside the city limits, and 20 feet from the City utility pole line. This secondary service drop is to irrigate fields.

Kenny Combs asked the trustees to vote to authorize staff to seek bids for Lease Purchase of a re-certified compactor for the Landfill. Jack Smiley asked for a comparison between warranties for a new compactor and a re-certified one. This item was approved.

There was no new business and the AMA adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

The City Council meeting began at 6:44 p.m. with all present but Chad Osborne. There was to be a presentation of the family awarded the home being built by Habitat For Humanities at 1129 North Willard by Gayla Smith, Board Member and Family Support Committee. Upon completion of the house, the family who will occupy the residence is: Pedrick Shivers and Kathryn Miller and their five children. The item was skipped for lack of attendance by these parties.

There was a comment from the audience. It was spoken by Veronica Damron of Southwestern Youth Services (SWYS). Damron thanked the Council and Mayor for their support on the Emergency Solution grant. Last year SWYS received $25,000 from this grant for their Transitional Living Program. This year they received $100,000 for the Transitional Living Program.

The Consent Agenda was approved it in its entirety. It included: approval of minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting on October 2; approval of minutes for the Special City Council Meeting on October 9; from the Old Budget approval of purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the General Fund totaling $1,649.19; from the New Budget purchase orders for FY 2012-2013 for the General Fund totaling $116,029.98; for the Workers Comp Fund totaling $97,258.77; for the Assurance Fund totaling $165,611.14; for the Airport Fund totaling $2,222.75; for the Emergency 911 Fund totaling $427.00; an Estimated payroll for October 25, as follows: Salaries - $307.979, Part Time Wages - $ 12,030, Overtime -$7,415.46, Contractual OT - $ 0.00, Incentive, License Pay - $ 6,000.00, Employer Paid Taxes - $ 22,541, Employee Paid Taxes - $ 64,675.59, Employer Paid Benefits - $110,358.00, Employer Paid Benefits - $110,358, Employee Paid Benefits - $ 49,276.64, Workers Comp - $ 13,117, For a total estimated amount of: $593,392.69; Payroll figures for September 27. 2012: Prior Estimate/ Actual Salaries - $309,886.00/ $312,618.98, Part Time Wages - $ 9,538/ $7,240.27, Overtime - $ 7,415.46/ $7,180.81, Contractual Overtime - $ 0.00/ $ 0.00, Incentive, License Pay - $ 6,093/ $ 6,145.35, Employer Paid Taxes - $ 22,503/ $21,080.41, Employee Paid Taxes - $ 65,076.06/ $57,614.50, Employer Paid Benefits - $109,990/ $118,695.87, Employee Paid Benefits - $ 49,581.76/ $49,978.93, Workers Comp - $12,953/ $14,279.25, For a total amount of: $593,036.28/ $594,834.37, Percentage of Difference 0.3% higher than prior estimate; Acknowledge monthly reports and minutes as follows: CableOne, City and School Swimming Pool, Fleet Maintenance Fuel Report.

The Council approved Resolution No. 2012-35 directing filing and notification to the public of the publication of Supplement #31 to the Altus City Code 1980. This was a standard procedure according to City Attorney Catherine Coke.

The only bidder was approved by Council for the City Vehicle & Liability Insurance. The coverage ends from the previous policy Nov. 1.

The Council voted to approve Resolution No. 2012-36 amending the FY 2012-2013 Annual Budget in the amount of $76,495.70 to the Hotel/Motel Escrow account. $39,118.99 will be from FY 2011-2012 Hotel/Motel Escrow fund balance and $37,376.71 from FY 2012-2013 Hotel/Motel Revenue collections. This transfer had been previously approved by Council.

The Council voted on adoption of Resolution No. 2012-37 approving a “Participation Agreement for Cooperative Purchasing” by and between Buy Board, a National Purchasing Cooperative, and the City of Altus authorizing the execution of the Agreement and any related forms, designating the Mayor as the authorized Representative, establishing the City as cooperative Member in this Agreement that will be automatically renewed for subsequent fiscal years. City Finance Director James Wilson said this would help save the City money on its purchases.

There was no new business, and Mayor Webb made no appointments.

City Administrator Elizabeth Gray made comments and reports. She said that citizens may receive survey calls from OMPA. An OMPA representative will be present on Nov. 20 at the Council meeting to present information on proposed rate increases on service charges.

City Council member’s comments and reports included:

Mike Patterson asked that a safety officer look at intersections in town to see if trees and shrubs can be trimmed or shaped, not cut down, to allow greater visibility for drivers. He cited Broadway and Willard as an example for the need to trim foliage.

Rick Steen said the City could check with the schools so they wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel on the smoking issue.

Remarks were made as to the schools. All local schools and Western Oklahoma State College are tobacco free institutions.

Rick Henry said he received a call on the flag at the N. Main fire station being tattered.

Fire Chief Jerry Abbott said new flags have been ordered.

Henry said he was asked by a Realtor if Altus was a “Buy, sell, or hold”. Henry said he told her good things are coming. If it were a stock, he’d buy it. The next six months will bring good news for the community, he said.

Perry Shelton had been reviewing the reports on gasoline and diesel consumption. He said 17 of the 23 entities had exceeded their average. Of those using diesel, six of ten exceeded their allowance. “Be aware, your money can go out the door real quick. Mine does,” Shelton remarked.

The Mayor made no comments and the crowd wanted to leave quickly to catch the Presidential debate on television.

The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.