Board of County Commissioners: The Allocation of Beverage Tax for the month of August 2021 is to be distributed as follows: Bristow $3,564.39; Depew $402.58; Drumright $2,458.83; Kellyville $972.38; Kiefer $1,424.51; Lawrence Creek $126.97; Mannford $2,601.28; Mounds $987.87; Oilton $857.80; Sapulpa $17,372.85; Shamrock $86.71; Slick $111.48.
Sapulpa City Council: A $27K grant from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) was accepted by the Council. The grant, which will be in effect for a year from the end of this month, provides funds to pay our police department overtime and travel expenses to reduce alcohol-impaired driving in our community, occupant protection (seat belts), and speed enforcement, to “try to make our roads safer for our citizens,” say the SPD.
The Council authorized $71,550 in upgrades to the SPD Firing Range Target Turning System from Action Target. City Manager Joan Riley explained this is one of the last purchases for the SPD from the 2020 GO Bond. Chief Mike Reed reported that the gun range was acquired in 2000 and that upgrades are needed.
Sapulpa Parks & Recreation: Officers were elected at Tuesday morning’s regular meeting. Pete Egan was voted Chairman, David Beyer Vice-Chairman, and Cookie Jobe Secretary.
Inoperable light poles installed in the 1970s will be removed from the north side, or baseball field area, of Hollier Park this week.
A high-definition security camera system was installed at Liberty Park and the Aquatic Center on Tuesday. The sophisticated system is intended to deter vandalism and to aid safety measures.
The Board agreed to make a recommendation to the city council to amend an ordinance of the City Code to limit the length of time a Recreational Vehicle can camp at Sahoma Lake to 14 days. Guests must leave the park and wait seven days before returning.
The Board expressed its support for the new Rock Creek Park Gathering Place. The site is currently known as Reynolds Park and is just east of Ozark Trail and the original Rock Creek Bridge, and south of the newly-painted City of Sapulpa water tank. City Manager Joan Riley introduced the concept at a recent City Council meeting and plans are in the works.
The Aquatic Center’s End-of-Year Report was presented on Tuesday. Revenues did not meet budgeted numbers due to several factors, including a nationwide lifeguard shortage, severe summer weather, COVID complications, and transitions between supervisors, however, admissions totaled over 10,500 people, despite these challenges.
Improvements to the facility are needed due to its age. Options include resurfacing the pool’s plaster shell, which will last several more years, or painting it, which would require annual upkeep, slide maintenance, and a new chlorinator. Parks Director Carson Lynch explained that these kinds of upgrades are routine for the amount of time this kind of equipment and materials have been in service. No action was made; the item will be revisited at a future date.
Creek County Board of Adjustment: A contentious application to allow a dirt mining operation in an agricultural zone off Highway 66 in Kellyville was heard on Tuesday evening. The room was crowded with neighbors concerned about property values, dirt, mud, road conditions, and noise.
The applicant, Troy Belk, addressed each neighbors’ concern and answered several questions from the Board. Ultimately, the application was unanimously approved with the conditions that the mining occur 100 feet or more away from property lines and that working hours be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
A small medical marijuana processing operation was approved in an agricultural zone in Kellyville. A few neighbors appeared to oppose the application but were satisfied when they learned that the facility would only include two people.
ONEOK was approved for a special exception to place a pressure control station in an agricultural district on 177th West Avenue in Kellyville.
Creek County Planning Commission: An application by Wallace Engineering/Jim Beach for a preliminary plat for a subdivision and a rezone from agricultural to light residential district to allow a single-family dwelling subdivision on 49th West Avenue in Mounds was unanimously approved. The new neighborhood, called Sunset Farms, is to contain 22 lots with a minimum of 1.8 acres to a maximum of 3.5 acres. This will be heard by the BOCC on Monday, September 27th at its regular weekly meeting.
