http://cityofsandsprings.com Current news in Sand Springs, OK en-us Copyright 2007 - City of Sand Springs http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1610 F 250, 2010 City of Sand Springs Emergency Management officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Hermine as it potentially works its way toward northeastern Oklahoma in the coming days. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Tulsa is forecasting the remnants of Hermine will move from southwest Oklahoma to southeast Kansas Wednesday night. This track suggests a very heavy rain event for portions of northeast Oklahoma between noon Wednesday and noon Thursday. The NWS has issued a flood watch for counties in central and western Oklahoma. That flood watch could be extended to the east as conditions develop. Currently it appears the area at greatest risk for heavy rain in northeastern Oklahoma would be north and west of a line from Henryetta to Miami – including Sand Springs and the Tulsa metro area. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches are currently forecast, with isolated amounts in the 6 to 7 inch range possible.  “The exact track of this storm is uncertain at this time, However, persons who live in flood-prone areas of the city should follow changing weather conditions closely and be prepared in case a flooding situation develops,” said Sand Springs Asst. Emergency Manager Artie Palk. The City is currently updating its Floodplain Management Plan document, and an article on the City’s website, www.sandspringsok.org, highlights the prevention, protection, response and mitigation elements of the plan. Residents in Sand Springs’ city limits who want to receive flash flood warnings by telephone can sign up for the City’s free Code RED emergency notification system. Just go to the City’s website and click on the “Code RED Signup” link below the page header. Residents already enrolled for Code RED weather alerts can update their profiles to receive all severe weather warnings; or specifically tornado, severe thunderstorm or flash flood warnings. As of Tuesday morning, Lake Keystone had nearly all of its flood storage capacity available, according to data from the Army Corps of Engineers. “At this time, we are focusing on the potential for flash flooding on creeks and streams. This could occur if we receive substantial amounts of rainfall in a short period of time,” Palk said. “As necessary, automated stream gauges will be augmented by visual monitoring by emergency personnel should potential flooding conditions develop.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1609 F 247, 2010 Tulsa District Judge Deborah Shallcross continued a temporary restraining order until Sept. 28th blocking a Sand Springs City Council public hearing on a low-income housing tax credit program application by Zimmerman Properties LLC.   Council will be unable to take any action on the matter at its Sept. 13 regular meeting. Shallcross made the ruling following a lengthy hearing on Friday, Sept 3rd. Zimmerman Properties is proposing to build a 56-unit apartment housing facility near 51st Street and Highway 97 using low-income housing tax credit financing from the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority (OHFA). The firm received the restraining order Aug. 23rd barring the Council from repealing a conditional May 10th resolution supporting the OHFA application or adopting a new resolution supporting or opposing the project. OHFA is expected to consider the Zimmerman Properties request during its Sept. 16th meeting. During the hearing, the City provided the court with a recording transcript from the May 10th meeting where the conditional resolution was adopted. The transcript shows Mayor Walker making a motion to adopt the resolution of support “subject to the building permits requests coming back to Council with Council to determine the appropriate public notice requirements.” The City’s ordinance addressing OHFA low-income housing tax credit financing applications requires a public hearing prior to adoption of a resolution supporting or opposing any OHFA project. City Attorney David Weatherford said that the transcript offers clarity to the Mayor’s conditional motion and asserts that there would be a public hearing process before a final resolution was adopted. “The Mayor was precluded from speaking to the contents of the transcript while the matter was being heard by the court, and no party – including the applicant, concerned citizens or the media – had requested a copy of the meeting’s recording or its transcript,” Weatherford said. The City will notify OHFA of the Court’s continued restraining order and will ask that the agency not act on the Zimmerman application until the matter is resolved. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1608 F 244, 2010 It has been more than a decade since significant flooding occurred in the City of Sand Springs. Efforts to mitigate flood losses and keep affected residents safe are contained in a Floodplain Management Plan, which is periodically evaluated and updated. City Council will receive public comments prior to considering the plan’s latest updates during its Sept. 13th regular meeting. Draft copies of the Floodplain Management Plan Update are available by contacting City Floodplain Administrator T.J. Davis at 246-2582. Periodic review and updating of floodplain management documents is required to continue the City’s participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) for the National Flood Insurance Program. The City of Sand Springs holds a No. 6 rating which provides property owners a 20 percent discount on flood insurance policies. Overall, 247 buildings are located in or adjacent to the floodplain of the 15 creeks and rivers within the city limits. The most frequent and destructive flooding has occurred in the Meadow Valley subdivision adjacent to Fisher Creek in south Sand Springs. The city is designated as a “repetitive loss community” as there are 35 of the 155 homes in Meadow Valley that have sustained two or more flood claims in excess of $1,000 over a 10-year period.The last major flooding event in Meadow Valley occurred in May 2000. NFIP has paid nearly $3.7 million in flood loss claims in Meadow Valley since 1986. The Floodplain Management Plan addresses five primary areas to prevent or mitigate flooding damages and dangers – prevention, property protection, emergency services, public information and structural projects. For prevention, the plan emphasizes that future subdivisions upstream from Meadow Valley are developed in a manner that does not add to flooding problems. “The fisher and Anderson Creek basins converge behind Meadow Valley, and they cover a substantial developable area in the city’s southwest quadrant,” Davis said. “It is critically important that future developments do not add to the flooding issues that are already experienced downstream.” City personnel also clear debris from Fisher Creek on a regular basis as a preventative measure to assure it can flow unobstructed during storm events. For property protection, a buyout program combining City and federal funds removed 28 homes in Meadow Valley with the greatest amount of repetitive flood losses. The Plan notes that future acquisition and demolition of remaining repetitive loss properties could occur if funding were ever secured. “The Plan does not establish any timeframe or funding commitments. However, it does reference acquisition and demolition as a way to reduce repetitive loss structures if funding does become available,” Davis said. Additional property protection is available if homeowners choose to raise the floor elevation of their homes. However, Davis noted this is an expensive proposition at best. “The best form of property protection is flood insurance. We conduct educational campaigns annually in accordance with the Floodplain Management Plan to urge people to consider purchasing flood insurance,” Davis said. “Since Sand Springs participates in NFIP, flood insurance is available to any property owner who wants to purchase it.” When flooding or potential flooding emergencies occur in Meadow Valley, the emergency services section of the Floodplain Plan outlines measures the City takes to save lives and property – including a warning siren, emergency telephone notifications, automated stream gauges and protocols for City personnel to monitor potential flood situations. “The flood response plan is reviewed annually to assure all entities with the City are on board with the plan should a flooding incident be imminent,” Davis said. The public information section of the Floodplain Plan keeps people aware of flood insurance and floodplain protection measures. “All Sand Springs utility customers receive basic information annually about these issues. Periodic media releases also offer similar information,” Davis said. The City also provides Flood Insurance Rate Map information to lenders, insurance agents and real estate agents for specific properties. Structural elements such as levees, detention ponds and creek channelization have been studied for the Meadow Valley Area. However, Davis noted the costs for such projects would be significant. “The Army Corps of Engineers has studied these projects and examined their benefits verses the potential costs involved. None of them met the benefit to cost ratio for federal funding participation.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1607 F 242, 2010 All City of Sand Springs offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. There will be no residential refuse collection on that day. Residents who normally have their trash collected on Mondays will instead have it collected on Wednesday, Sept. 8th. Trash polykarts need to be at the street curb by no later than 6 a.m. on that day to assure collection. The Case Community Center will be closed Saturday, Sept. 4th, through Monday, Sept. 6th. The center will reopen Tuesday morning, Sept. 7th. Fall hours for the Case Community Center are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 1 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The monthly Chipper Day program to dispose of tree limbs and brush, usually held on the first Saturday of the month, will instead be held on Saturday, Sept. 11th, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the City’s Street Division facility, 8620 W. 21st St. A current City utility bill showing residential refuse service is needed for access. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1606 F 239, 2010 Sand Springs police and firefighters, along with the community's Alert Neighbors programs, will sponsor the Back 2 School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at River City Park. There will be plenty of food and fun activities for schoolchildren, as well as free haircut vouchers and school immunizations. School supplies will be provided for families needing assistance who have children in Sand Springs schools. Door prizes will be given away every five minutes. Families attending the event need to be aware of construction on Wekwa Road and should approach the River City Park entrance on Wekiwa from 129th West Avenue. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1604 F 238, 2010 Recall petitions for two Sand Springs City Councilors will each need the signatures of 2,077 registered voters living within Sand Springs’ city limits gathered within a month to move the recall effort forward. Petitions initiating a recall of Mayor Robert L. “Bob” Walker, representing Council Ward 4, and Brian Jackson, representing Council Ward 6, were filed with the City Clerk’s office on Wednesday, Aug. 25th. Each petition states the reasons for the recall and the Councilor’s’ response. Spaces are provided for each voter’s signature, printed name, address, and the date he or she signed the petition. The recall process for elected City officers is incorporated into Article 7 of the City’s Charter. The Charter can be viewed on-line by visiting the City’s website, www.sandspringsok.org, and clicking on the “Codes and Ordinances” section under the City Council link on the right side of the homepage. According to the Charter, at least 20 percent of total number of registered qualified electors (registered voters) in the City must sign each petition. The election board has determined that 2,077 registered voters meets the 20 percent requirement for each petition. Those circulating petitions have one month from the filing date with the City Clerk’s office to obtain the minimum number of signatures. The Charter also states petitions may only be circulated by registered qualified electors of the city, and that the person who circulates each copy of the petition shall sign an affidavit on the copy stating that each signer “signed the petition in his presence, that each signature on the petition is genuine, and that he believes each signer to be a registered qualified elector of the city.” Upon filing completed petitions, the Charter provides an additional month for the City Clerk to examine each petition and “ascertain whether it has been prepared and circulated as required, and whether the required number of registered qualified electors of the city have signed it.” If the City Clerk certifies that either of the petitions was not property prepared or circulated, or that the required number of signatures from registered voters living in the city limits was not obtained, the recall process for that petition would not continue. If the City Clerk certifies that either of the petitions was properly prepared and circulated, and that a minimum number of registered voters living in the city limits did sign it, the petition would be submitted to Council at its next meeting. Council would then pass a resolution to set a recall election date. The Charter states the election shall be held not less than 40 days or more than 50 days after passage of the resolution. However, the date would need to conform to the election board’s schedule for elections. In a recall election, registered voters would select a successor to the Council seat. Any qualified candidate, including the incumbent, may file as a candidate for the office. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes would be elected. If the incumbent seeks election and wins, he would continue to serve in the office uninterrupted. If another candidate wins, he or she would have a month to confirm his or her qualifications for the office and would then fill the remaining term of the Council seat. If a winning candidate other than the incumbent is unqualified to serve, the Council seat would be declared vacant and filled like any other vacant Council seat. The Charter notes a recalled incumbent, or one who resigns during recall proceedings, cannot hold an elected office or employment with the City for a three-year period. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1603 F 237, 2010 A tornado drops out of the sky and does substantial damage to homes and businesses. High winds topple trees and sever electrical power to several neighborhoods. Heavy rains cause creeks to rise and flood hundreds of homes. Or, in a scenario very familiar to Sandites, freezing rain falls from the sky for hours and paralyzes the region’s power grid. In times of trouble, citizens often turn to the American Red Cross for shelter and life-sustaining resources following a disaster. They are cared for by teams of trained volunteers who are literally “Ready When the Time Comes.” Red Cross personnel will be holding a Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC) shelter volunteer training at the Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd. in Sand Springs, on Saturday, Sept. 25th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. RWTC is a partnership between the Tulsa Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and various community organizations. “Enthusiasm and a desire to help are key requirements for a RWTC team volunteer. However, volunteers must receive training in mass care, sheltering, feeding, bulk distribution and CPR to be a qualified and effective team member,” said Sand Springs Asst. Emergency Management Director Artie Palk. Team members must complete an application and successfully complete the training to become certified. A criminal background check conducted by the American Red Cross-Tulsa Area Chapter is also required for all participants. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, but there are no specific skill requirements to participate. Most teams would work in Red Cross shelters during large-scale disasters. The need for teams will depend on the type of disaster and the scope of the Red Cross’ response. Teams will never be assigned to a task beyond the level of their training. Palk noted the Case Center has been certified as a Red Cross disaster shelter and could be used on a short-term basis both for local or regional disasters. However, local team members can reach beyond local shelter, feeding or bulk distribution needs. “The Red Cross responds to many disasters both in Oklahoma and nationally. The training gives teams a background to assist at other disaster sites if they are able to and the need is there,” he said. RWTC is ideal for civic, corporate or church groups. Individuals are also welcomed into the program and can form a team or be matched up with a team. Each RWTC team selects a team captain who serves as the liaison between the team and the Red Cross. When a disaster occurs, the Red Cross will contact the team captain and ask the team to mobilize. The Red Cross will provide information such as location and the number of team members needed. Palk noted most RWTC volunteers gain a deep sense of satisfaction with their experience. “They are able to help as soon as the Red Cross has a need, and it rewards them with the confidence and pride that they are providing a greatly needed service to the community,” he said. RWTC team members can expand their volunteer work with the Red Cross if they choose to. There are many disaster assistance aspects to the Red Cross that need trained volunteers who can respond on a regular basis. A minimum of 15 people are needed for the Sand Springs class. To pre-register, call the Emergency Management Office at 246-2610 and leave a message indicating the number of attendees.   http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1602 F 235, 2010 A Tulsa judge’s order Monday morning barring the Sand Springs City Council from taking action on a new low-income housing tax credit program resolution halted a public hearing on the matter Monday evening. The ruling, made by Tulsa District Judge Deborah Shallcross, was sought by Zimmerman Properties LLC to keep a May 10th conditional resolution supporting its proposed 56-unit low-income housing development at 51st Street and Highway 97 in place until a full court hearing can be held on the matter Sept. 3rd. A previous court order issued Aug. 19th barred the Council from considering repeal of that resolution. Zimmerman Properties is seeking low-income housing tax credit program assistance through the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority (OHFA) for the project. On the recommendation of City Attorney David Weatherford, Council voted to delay consideration of Zimmerman Properties’ application until its next regularly scheduled meeting, which will be held on Monday, Sept. 13th. In making a motion to delay action on the Zimmerman application, Mayor Bob Walker said the City will be represented at the Sept. 3rd hearing and will “seek to lift these court orders so that our citizens and the Council can consider whether or not to repeal the initial resolution and adopt a new resolution.” Walker explained that since the court has ruled that Council cannot act on any resolutions in the Zimmerman matter, it would not be appropriate and in the spirit of the court’s ruling to hold a public hearing that would need to be reheard once the order is lifted. As a part of his motion, Walker asked that Weatherford advise OHFA of the court orders and ask that they make no permanent decision on the Zimmerman Properties application until the Council has had an opportunity to vote. “I would also want to make it clear that it is the Council’s position that it should be allowed to vote on this issue, and that the City Attorney, with the assistance of city staff, take those steps necessary to convince the court to uphold our right to obtain public input and to vote on this important issue to our community,” Walker said. He added: “My fellow councilors and I are individuals of integrity and strongly believe that we can hear this matter in a fair and impartial manner in compliance with the process established by City ordinance. Attempts by any party to this matter to intimidate or silence the process will not stand.” Walker thanked those in attendance and noted the Council’s disappointment that action could not be taken to give the matter further consideration.  An unrelated OHFA low-income tax credit program application by Heartland Village Limited Partnership received a resolution of support from Council. That firm is seeking funding for a 40-unit housing development for the elderly at 38th Street and Summit Boulevard. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1601 F 235, 2010 Numerous customers were 'coming hungry and leaving happy,' as the slogan goes, at the new Sand Springs IHOP resturant, located at 101 S. Highway 97. The eatery -- fameous for its pancakes as well as a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu -- opened for its first official day of business on Aug. 23rd. IHOP is located adjacent to the future River West development and is one of the components of a shopping and dining destination planned for the Vision 2025 Keystone Corridor redevelopment area.   http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1600 F 235, 2010 AUG. 23, 2010, 5 p.m. -- Sand Springs City Council is not expected to hold a public hearing or take action on a low-income housing tax credit program application by Zimmerman Properties LLC this evening.Consideration of any resolutions in the Zimmerman matter by Council are delayed by a court order. Tulsa District Judge Deborah Shallcross ruled this morning that Council could not adopt a new resolution concerning the application until the matter is given a full court hearing on Sept. 3rd. A previous court ruling last week barred Council from repealing an original resolution adopted May 10th conditionally suppoorting Zimmerman's application.Council is expected to consider continuing the Zimmerman application to its Sept. 13th meeting.An unrelated application is expected to be heard this evening for a senior low-income housing tax credit program application by Heartland Village Development. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1599 F 232, 2010 Sand Springs’ recycling drop-off center continued picking up business during the 2010 fiscal year. According to records tracked by the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (The MET), 623,692 pounds – around 312 tons – of recyclables were collected at the Sand Springs Recycling Depot between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010. That equates to more than 10 refuse trucks packed with trash not making a trip to the landfill. The Recycling Depot is located at 105 E. Morrow Rd. – about a block east of the intersection of Main Street and Morrow Road. It is staffed daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is open at other times for drop-off service. The City partners with the MET for recycling services. The MET has 12 recycling centers strategically located throughout the Tulsa area. Sand Springs’ recycling totals placed fourth among the 12 centers—with only Broken Arrow, central Tulsa and south Tulsa collecting more recyclables. “Many of our citizens are committed to being green and recycling materials for reuse rather than mindlessly throwing them in the trash,” said Carla Hayes of the City’s Public Works Department. “The Depot facility is conveniently located so that people can drop off their recyclables on their way to work or while running errands.”Specifically, the Sand Springs Recycling Depot processed about 5 tons of aluminum cans, about 60 tons of plastics, more than 67 tons of glass, 138 tons of newspapers and office papers, more than 12 tons of steel cans, nearly 54 tons of cardboard, four tons of old telephone books, and more than two tons of batteries. Additionally, the center received 400 gallons of antifreeze, 2,672 gallons of motor oil and 100 gallons of cooking grease. “When you consider the near weightlessness of a plastic bottle or a pop can, that’s a lot of bottle and can that are finding new life in products made from recyclable materials,” Hayes said. She added: “Unlike many states that have strict recycling requirements to conserve landfill space, Oklahoma’s recycling efforts are totally voluntary. As our society transitions toward a greener lifestyle and economy, our inroads into recycling will pay great benefits.” In addition to the Recycling Depot, the City and other organizations have green and yellow Abitibbi recycling dumpsters placed in visible locations throughout Sand Springs to collect papers. Each month, the City holds a free “Chipper Day” where tree limbs and brush are shredded in recyclable mulch. The next Chipper Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11th. Chipper Day is located at the Street Division facility, 8620 W. 21st St., and is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A current City utility bill showing residential refuse service in needed for access. For further information, contact the City’s Public Works customer service line at 246-2588. The City also participates in The MET’s household pollutant collection event each spring and fall at the Tulsa Fairgrounds. The next event will be held the weekend of Nov. 6-7. For further information on recycling and the household pollutant collection event, visit The MET’s website at www.metrecycle.com. On Oct. 2nd, the City will hold its Fall CARE Day – including free disposal of bulky items at the American Environmental Landfill on 177th West Avenue. Further information will be distributed in monthly utility bills during September.       http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1598 F 232, 2010 Tulsa District Judge Jefferson Sellers issued a temporary injunction Thursday evening barring repeal of a May 10th resolution regarding apartments proposed to be built by Zimmerman Properties. However, Sellers denied Zimmerman’s request to stop any further consideration of the issue by Council. The injunction was sought by Zimmerman Properties in a lawsuit filed against the City of Sand Springs and the Sand Springs City Council on Aug. 18th. Members of the City Council are Mayor Bob Walker, Vice Mayor Mike Burdge, and Councilors Michael Phillips, Dean Nichols, Brian Jackson, Harold Neal and Ward Sherrill. Sellers’ ruling will remain in place until Sept. 3rd, when a permanent injunction will be considered by District Judge Deborah Shallcross, who is assigned the case. Shallcross was unavailable for Thursday’s hearing. City Attorney David Weatherford said Council will have to delay consideration of repealing the Zimmerman Properties’ May 10th resolution, even though a resolution to do so is listed on its Monday agenda. “The court’s ruling has prevented Council from considering this application from square one,” Weatherford said. “The hearing will be held, and Council may consider adopting a new resolution recommending support or denial of the Zimmerman application to OHFA. The Council’s vote on Monday will give guidance to staff about the direction the Council wants to go; the Court’s ruling does not preclude additional, future Council action that affects the ability of the project to be built.” He added: “Council has dealt with matters similar to this in the past and has shown its ability to make decisions in a professional and impartial manner – taking all sides of an issue into account.” Weatherford noted the May 10th resolutions for the Zimmerman Properties and Heartland Village Limited Partnership applications were adopted based on staff’s recommendation – not the Council’s – and were conditional in nature. An unrelated OHFA low-income tax credit program application by Heartland Village Limited Partnership is not a part of the litigation. That firm is seeking funding for a 40-unit housing development for the elderly at 38th Street and Summit Boulevard. A public hearing on its application will also be held at Council’s Aug. 23rd meeting. OHFA is expected to consider the applications at its Sept. 16th meeting. Monday’s Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. and has been moved to the Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd., to accommodate the anticipated number of interested citizens. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1597 F 225, 2010 Now that contractors have begun installing Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices, residents and businesses need to be aware of the different components in the water meter installation when working in or near their meter cans. Several hundred AMR water meters have been installed in neighborhoods immediately north of downtown Sand Springs, and crews are continuing to prepare meters for installation in south Sand Springs. Electronic links that will allow the meters to be read automatically are also being installed at sites throughout the City’s 150 square-mile water service area. Initial AMR installations will likely begin receiving bills generated by the new system this fall, according to Utilities Billing Supervisor Anita Hundley. The entire project is expected to be completed by early 2011. “Until we get specific areas of the system completely installed and functional, we will still be reading meters manually in those areas,” Hundley said. “From the customer’s standpoint, the changeover should be seamless except for changes in the appearance of their water meters inside and out.” Water meter cans, the containers where the meters’ components are housed, will now feature a beveled antenna device that rises about ¾-inch above the meter can lid. Residents should be careful when mowing or trimming around the meter can to avoid damage to the antenna.“The antenna devices are very durable for common maintenance around the meter can, and trimming grass around them is necessary to maintain an accurate reading. Customers should just exercise caution around their water meters while performing yard maintenance,” Hundley said. Antenna devices are also located on meters placed in driveways and sidewalks. Their beveled edges and low profile do not present a tripping hazard.  Customers or plumbers sometimes need to access the meter can to turn off water service for repairs. The “stop” device that turns off the meter should only be turned with a meter key that can be purchased at most home improvement stores. When opening the can is necessary, gently open the lid and lay it on its top to avoid breaking the bottom stem of the antenna, Hundley said. In addition to the meter, the inside of an AMR can also contains the transmitting device on a small pedestal that sends meter reading data directly to the City. Both the antenna and transmitter are connected with five-foot cords that allow them to be easily removed from the meter can without being detached. Meter components should never be disconnected or tampered with. The AMR system will send an alert to the Customer Service Department if a meter is disabled or otherwise not functioning correctly. Meter equipment that is damaged intentionally or by carelessness is subject to a replacement charge – possibly including call-out costs, Hundley said. Also, customers who maliciously tamper with meter equipment may be subject to tampering fees and criminal penalties. Once in use, AMR devices will transmit data directly to the Customer Service Department for billing. A customer’s usage is monitored on a regular basis, and alerts can be generated if unusual usage patterns develop.  “In addition to the efficiencies AMR will create, it will also help us to detect significant and costly customer leaks in a matter of days instead of weeks -- which is often the case with manual meter reading,” Hundley said. “This will conserve water and assist customers with leak information in a more timely manner so they can make repairs sooner.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1596 F 224, 2010 Before throwing that fast-food restaurant cup or candy wrapper out the car window, here’s some food for thought. Litter is more than just an eyesore that costs the City of Sand Springs around $20,000 a year to clean up. It is often the source of clogged storm drains and storm sewers that can lead to street flooding during heavy rains, according to Carla Hayes with the City’s Public Works Department. “A cup or wrapper here and there may not seem like a big deal, but it costs big money for us to clean it up – money that could be spent elsewhere maintaining our City streets and storm drains,” Hayes said. “Even worse, litter that makes its way to street curbs and gutters often gets snared in storm drain inlets and diminishes the capacity of storm sewers.” The City has a three-person crew working three days a week just picking up litter. The task was trimmed from five days a week due to budget cuts. Hayes noted the crews are challenged to keep ahead of the messes people make. “We have to deal with just about everything imaginable – from loose litter to diapers to furniture that’s dumped in remote areas or on vacant lots owned by the City. If we don’t pick it up, it ends up in the storm drainage system and ultimately in creeks and the Arkansas River,” Hayes said. Another troubling waste for storm drains comes from grass clippings and other yard materials that get blown into the street. Not only do yard wastes clog storm drains, their nutrients and the chemicals people spray on them often contribute to pollutants in creeks and streams, Hayes said. “Since most of the City’s storm drainage system runs underground or in small obscure creeks, trash and debris clogs are often out of sight and out of mind. The picture changes when storm sewers back up and creeks become raging torrents during heavy rains that often come during the spring and fall months,” she said. Citizens can do several things to help keep the City’s storm drainage system functioning properly. First and foremost, don’t litter. Next, citizens should keep street curbs and gutters in front of their homes clear of trash, debris and yard wastes. Also, clean off nearby storm drain cover grates and check adjacent creeks to make sure they are flowing properly. The City’s minimum fine for littering is $154. The maximum fine that can be assessed is $544. Hayes noted if citizens see someone littering or illegally dumping trash, they should call 911 and report the location of the violation and any other details they can gather. “They should not directly confront someone who is littering or dumping trash. Typically, these people know they are doing wrong and may resort to violence if approached,” Hayes said. Citizens who notice a clogged storm drain or debris in a creek or street that may affect stormwater flows during heavy rains can make a report to the City’s Public Works Customer Service line at 246-2588. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1595 F 223, 2010 Before City Council takes action on two low-income housing resolutions at its Aug. 23rd meeting, they are expected to consider resolutions repealing the resolutions adopted May 10th supporting the two projects. City staff is preparing new resolutions to repeal existing resolutions that were included in applications to the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority (OHFA) by Zimmerman Properties LLC for a 56-unit housing development at 51st Street and Highway 97, and by Heartland Village Limited Partnership for a 40-unit housing development for the elderly at 38th Street and Summit Boulevard. “By repealing the resolutions, Council will be in a position to consider both projects from square one and will be able to send a clear message to OHFA without any risk of confusion,” said City Attorney David Weatherford. The public hearings will be included in Council’s Aug. 23rd regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. The meeting location is being moved to the Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd., to accommodate the anticipated number of interested citizens. Weatherford said the agenda item to repeal the May 10th resolutions will make them invalid for OHFA consideration. Should Council decide to adopt new resolutions following the public hearing, they will be forwarded to the applicants and OHFA for consideration in awarding project funding. “The original resolutions were adopted based on staff’s recommendation – not the Council’s. Due to the limited time staff had to prepare the resolutions and the OHFA deadlines involved, the information gathered was inadequate to initiate a proper process for consideration,” he said. “The decisions that come out of the Aug. 23rd meeting will make the City’s position clear to OHFA for both applications.” OHFA requests input from city governments as a part of its low-income housing tax credit program. The City of Sand Springs adopted a low income housing tax credit program ordinance in the mid-1990s to provide public input into the consideration process. “To be fair to all parties involved and to assure the process is properly followed, staff is recommending that Council repeal both the Vintage and Zimmerman resolutions and give them both fresh consideration,” he said. “I believe staff and the Council had, and continues to have, the public’s interests at heart in considering both of these applications,” he added. However, the timing and circumstances surrounding the May 10th resolutions created a unique set of procedural challenges that can only be clearly solved by repeal of the prior action of Council, as that action was intended to be conditional, and the final vote of Council, after considering all of the evidence pursuant to the City’s ordinance, is the only one that should be presented to OHFA.” City Council has a limited ability to offer comments on the projects – with those comments being limited to either OHFA requirements or regulations set by the City ordinance that deals with the OHFA process. Some of the factors Council can consider in making its recommendation include: • Whether the application meets the City’s Comprehensive Plan and meets identified housing needs in the city.• Whether there are any errors or inconsistencies in the application or accompanying market study.• What are the applicant’s financial plans for using the tax credits, and how viable is the project’s business plan.• Whether the applicant has shown evidence of neighborhood and community participation in the project’s planning.• Whether the project meets zoning, subdivision and site plan requirements; and whether it can be served by available public infrastructure.Weatherford noted that whatever Council decides, the resolutions submitted to OHFA will only be a recommendation. OHFA is expected to make decisions on project funding in September. “At the end of this process, the final decision rests with OHFA,” he said. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1594 F 222, 2010 The road to economic recovery in Sand Springs continued to be bumpy in August. Sales tax revenues for City coffers dipped for the second consecutive month. August’s sales tax disbursement from the Oklahoma Tax Commission totaled 739,821 – down $31,795 or 4.12 percent from the $771,616 received by the City in August 2009. The news follows a 12.25 percent sales tax decline in July. The August disbursement reflects sales in the last half of June and the first half of July. Although not as troubling as the July collections, the continued downturn in August bears significant watching, said Interim City Manager Bruce Ford. “Our local and regional economy continues to be in a state of flux – reflecting economic trends throughout the nation. Although we remain cautiously optimistic that we are moving toward recovery, it is going to be a long, slow road,” Ford said. The City collects a 3.5-cent sales tax for every dollar of goods purchased from businesses within the city limits. Two cents goes to general governmental operations. Another penny goes to fund water and sewer capital improvements, and a half-cent funds street improvements.With the 2011 fiscal year just getting under way, the August disbursement met its budget target. For budget purposes, the City uses an accrual accounting system that lags a month behind OTC disbursements. Through July, budgeted revenues totaled $736,770 – slightly above budget forecasts of $734,871. “In preparing our 2011 fiscal year budget, we provided some room for decreased sales tax revenues given the economic trends of recent years. We are hoping those adjustments are enough to maintain budget stability as we work back toward a growth mode,” Ford said. August sales tax disbursements for other communities in the Tulsa area were a mixture of increases and decreases. Sapulpa’s August sales tax check totaled $957,052, up 0.8 percent from the previous year. Mannford received $66,474, down 6.9 percent from the previous year. Bixby received $635,486, up 2.0 percent from the previous year. Broken Arrow received $2,687,995, up 6.3 percent from the previous year. Glenpool received $439,175, up 1.5 percent from the previous year. Jenks received $369,659, down 7.5 percent from the previous year. And, Owasso received $1,409,806, down 3.2 percent from the previous year. Tulsa’s sales tax check for August totaled $17,142,814 – up 1.6 percent from the previous year. And, Oklahoma City received $31,992,318 – up 15.1 percent from the previous year. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1593 F 222, 2010 Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker threw out the first pitch as part of the Tulsa City-County Library System's Summer Reading Program celebration at ONEOK Field. For the second time in three years, Sand Springs youths at the City's two libraries, Charles Page Library and Harry Pratt Library, had the highest summer readinbg completion rate of all communities in Tulsa County at 58 percent. Youths who completed the program were treated to a Tulsa Drillers game at ONEOK Field. The Summer Reading Program was sponsored this year by the Library System and KTUL Channel 8.  http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1592 F 219, 2010 Members of the Sand Springs Kiwanis Club don safety vests near Limestone Elementary School in south Sand Springs to lay down painted school zone street markings. With classes starting in a few weeks, the markings will alert drivers to slow down and be alert for returning schoolchildren. Kiwanis members pictured are, from left, Tracy McCorkle, Arin Jones and Rita Hinson. Also pictured is Scott Cheapham with Diamond-Vogel Paints showing the Kiwanians how to properly apply the firm's specialized paint to the street. The project's partnership included Kiwanians donating the labor, Diamond-Vogel donating the paint, and the City's Street Division supplying the templates and traffic control equipment.  http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1591 F 218, 2010 Workers apply asphalt patches to Main Street near First Street to finish up an emergency sewer line repair that has kept a block-long section of the busy downtown street closed since last Sunday. The contractor, T G Excavating, will perform a camera inspection of the line Saturday morning, and then sweep and wash the street before reopening it to traffic. Conditions permitting, the street should reopen around noontime Saturday. Emergency repairs were necessitated after a 12-inch sanitary sewer line estimated to be nearly a century old collapsed and created a large sinkhole. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1590 F 216, 2010 A skatepark review committee in Sand Springs has concluded months of research by announcing it will recommend Native Skateparks as their designer/builder of choice to Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc. and to the City of Sand Springs Parks and Recreation Department.This announcement comes as Sand Springs Park Friends commits to build the new skatepark this fall. This past spring, members of the eight-person committee toured concrete skateboard sites in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Pawhuska, New Braunfels, Texas and Joplin, Missouri. The group then solicited request For qualifications from a dozen skatepark designer/contractors and received six qualified responses.  Following a series of evaluations and in-person interviews, Native Skateparks was chosen as the recommended contractor for the $125,000 privately funded Sand Springs Park Friends project. Native Skateparks is based in Silverthorne, Colo., and recently completed a Tony Hawk Foundation grant-funded project in Pawhuska. The Pawhuska park reflects a custom-concrete bowl with a fun box, ledge, steps and skateable art -- all using galvanized steel coping along the grinding edges. While many of the contractors demonstrated their experience and talent to design and create a suitable concrete skatepark, a select few were identified as having a stronger sense of Sand Springs’ unique project site -- a large stormwater retention pond just south of the Case Community Center. Skatepark plans here will reflect use of the 5-foot elevation drop and natural boundaries of the retention pond to offer skaters a unique, diverse and challenging rhythmic skatespot for all skill levels. Additionally, Native Skateparks showed strong design team experience with their lead designer being involved in creating Tony Hawk’s personal skatespot at his residence and having received strong design comments from the Tony Hawk Foundation. While all of the firms were deemed capable to complete this project, most concepts for the Sand Springs skatepark ranged in size from 4,000 to 5,000 square feet.  Native Skateparks submitted a concept reflecting a substantially larger skatepark, at approximately 6,000 square feet.Native Skateparks will take the lead on nearly all aspects of the park's construction -- while other firms may have relied on various levels of out-sourced help -- thus ensuring consistent job-site management. Contract negotiations will begin soon and design work will continue in the coming days with a Parks Department public skater involvement meeting later this month. The evening meeting will take place at the Case Community Center. Notes from this meeting about the preliminary skatepark concept will be gathered, and a final design will be produced. The project guidelines include a December 31, 2010, completion date. Barring poor weather, Native Skateparks anticipates completing the project ahead of schedule. Fundraising efforts are close enough to allow the project to commence, however donations will be needed and may continue through this fall. To donate toward this concrete skatepark project, please send a tax-deductable check to Sand Springs Park Friends, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs OK 74063; or call 246-2562 for details.   http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1042 F 357, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1066 F 355, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1058 F 348, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1032 F 347, 2010 Regular Meeting of the City Council of Sand Springs. Municipal Authority meeting immediately following.Contact For More Info: 918-246-2500 Click here to view City Council Agendas and Minutes http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1273 F 341, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1271 F 340, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1315 F 338, 2010 The first Saturday of each month the City of Sand Springs offers FREE TREE CHIPPING SERVICE to residents. If the Saturday falls on a city holiday weekend then the event will be held the following Saturday. Bring your tree limbs up to 2” in diameter for chipping to the Street Department located at 8620 W. 21st St. between the hour of 7 am and 3 pm. Bring your Sand Springs water/refuse bill for proof of local residence (in City Limits). You can pick up an unlimited amount of FREE WOOD CHIPS by visiting the City of Sand Springs tree chipping site. You are welcome to load your own chips provided that you can cover or tarp the load. FREE FIREWOOD is also available at the tree chipping site. The firewood is on a first come first serve basis. Recycling the tree chips saves the City of Sand Springs money on disposal and saves valuable landfill space. Mulch helps control weed and plant growth without the use of herbicides in gardens and ornamental planting areas. It can also help conserve soil moisture and keep soil temperatures more moderate during extremely hot and cold weather. For more information call Public Works customer service @ 246-2588.   http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1040 F 329, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1031 F 326, 2010 Regular Meeting of the City Council of Sand Springs. Municipal Authority meeting immediately following.Contact For More Info: 918-246-2500 Click here to view City Council Agendas and Minutes http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1265 F 320, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1257 F 315, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1252 F 313, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1332 F 310, 2010 The first Saturday of each month the City of Sand Springs offers FREE TREE CHIPPING SERVICE to residents. If the Saturday falls on a city holiday weekend then the event will be held the following Saturday. Bring your tree limbs up to 2” in diameter for chipping to the Street Department located at 8620 W. 21st St. between the hour of 7 am and 3 pm. Bring your Sand Springs water/refuse bill for proof of local residence (in City Limits). You can pick up an unlimited amount of FREE WOOD CHIPS by visiting the City of Sand Springs tree chipping site. You are welcome to load your own chips provided that you can cover or tarp the load. FREE FIREWOOD is also available at the tree chipping site. The firewood is on a first come first serve basis. Recycling the tree chips saves the City of Sand Springs money on disposal and saves valuable landfill space. Mulch helps control weed and plant growth without the use of herbicides in gardens and ornamental planting areas. It can also help conserve soil moisture and keep soil temperatures more moderate during extremely hot and cold weather. For more information call Public Works customer service @ 246-2588. http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1270 F 306, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1250 F 305, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1030 F 298, 2010 Regular Meeting of the City Council of Sand Springs. Municipal Authority meeting immediately following.Contact For More Info: 918-246-2500 Click here to view City Council Agendas and Minutes http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1238 F 292, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1234 F 285, 2010 http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1029 F 284, 2010 Regular Meeting of the City Council of Sand Springs. Contact For More Info: 918-246-2500 Click here to view City Council Agendas and Minutes http://sandspringsok.org/events-entry.php?cat=1065&id=1229 F 278, 2010