At Monday’s City Council Study Session on March 18th, the council reviewed a proposed 27-acre Muskogee Creek Nation medical facility.
The new and large medical facility would be located at the corner of Highway 117 and South 49th West Avenue. It would also be a day facility, not holding patients overnight, and employ around 200 people.
City Attorney David Widdoes described the building design as not dissimilar to what was done at the Cancer Treatment Center. The value of the property the Muskogee (Creek) Nation is attempting to obtain is valued at $1.8 million.
“This will consolidate almost all their uses in the city at this location,” Widdoes said. “Also, in surrounding communities that are probable members, they are exploring how to take additional insurance from non-tribal members and be able to provide services to them.”
There were concerns expressed by community members such as a nearby HOA and surrounding homeowners. These concerns centered around the potential increase in noise, traffic and light pollution.
The study session also involved discussion on a speed limit study for State Highway 117 which was requested by a community member. The stretch of road to be studied would be in and around the area of 49th West Avenue.
“I don’t know if we get a lot of people from California and Texas, surely, but everyone is driving how they want to drive,” Vice Mayor Carla Gunn said. “The only way that we’re going to control some of that is, certain times of the day, putting a police presence.”
Council members discussed the idea and potential of reducing the speed limit to 45mph, safety concerns with trucks pulling out of the Paragon facility as well as whether a speed limit study was necessary.
“I have seen an increased presence of the police officers issuing tickets for speeding all over the place,” Widdoes said. “I was advised that today (Monday), three arrests were made based on morning traffic stops.”
After denying a Verizon 5G tower on a divided vote, the council also approved a switch from COX to a new consultant, Konica Minolta Bussiness Solutions. The city spent $5,149 a month with Cox with the new monthly rate being $1,807, which was calculated to be $41,000 savings annually.
“There’s a front cost on the equipment side, but that is well covered within the savings of the first year,” building inspector Mark Stephens said.
Council also heard from Sapulpa Main Street director Cindy Lawrence who presented information on accreditation standards and an upcoming National Main Street interview on March 27.
“This isn’t something that I decided we should do,” Lawrence said. “National Main Street came to us wanting us to apply for this because they see the potential and they see where we’re going they’re very impressed.”
Lawrence explained that only two cities in Oklahoma have received this reward, Okmulgee in the 1990s and Tulsa during the COVID pandemic.
Sapulpa City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at Sapulpa City Hall, 425 E Dewey. The Study Session is at 5:30pm, and the regular City Council meeting starts at 7:00pm. Both are open to the public.
