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=1498 F 068, 2010 Sand Springs’ sale tax collections were down again for March, but the percentage decline was not as severe as the declines in the last quarter of 2009 and the first part of this year. The Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) disbursement for Sand Springs totaled $749,632 – down $38,087 or 4.8 percent from the March 2009 disbursement of $787,719. The March disbursement reflects actual sales for the last half of January and estimated sales for the first half of February. The City collects a 3.5-cent sales tax for every dollar of goods purchased from businesses within the city limits. Two cents are used as the primary funding source for general governmental operations. Another penny goes to fund water and sewer capital improvements, and a half-cent funds street improvements. Since the beginning of the City’s fiscal year last July, sales tax disbursements from OTC have totaled $6,794,559 – down $810,216 or 10.7 percent from the same period the previous year. The City uses an accrual accounting method for budgeting sales tax revenues that lags a month behind the actual OTC disbursement. Through February, actual revenues totaled $5,948,987 – down $614,604 or 9.4 percent from the fiscal year’s budget projection. City officials have initiated the budget planning process for the 2011 fiscal year which begins July 1st. Individual departments have been asked to prepare budget scenarios that reflect reductions of 5, 10 and 15 percent. “We are still in what will likely be a prolonged period of less funding from sales taxes, and that will weigh heavily on our budget decisions for the coming year,” said City Manager Douglas Enevoldsen. “Although we are likely to see continued fluctuations in our monthly sales tax revenues, we must begin the process now to prepare a balanced budget for the new fiscal year.” He added: “Our focus remains on sustainability, and we will likely look at lower sales tax numbers as a new reality at least in the near term. In the long term, our financial future looks brighter as we begin seeing the fruits of our retail development efforts.” The continual revenue declines for the current fiscal year have been largely offset by reduced spending in all City departments, Enevoldsen noted. Nearly every other city in the Tulsa metropolitan area also experienced decreases in their sales tax disbursements – with some of them far more significant that Sand Springs’ decrease. Sapulpa’s sales tax check totaled $864,987 – down 10.9 percent from the previous year. Mannford received $65,036 – down 0.2 percent from the previous year. Bixby received $498,160 – down 7.8 percent from the previous year. Broken Arrow received $2,348,004 – down 5.3 percent from the previous year. Jenks received $296,896 – down 10.2 percent from the previous year. And, Owasso received $1,283,250 – down 1.2 percent from the previous year. Tulsa’s $14,945,912 sales tax check was down 11.6 percent from the previous year. And, Oklahoma City’s $24,993,018 sales tax check was down 6.3 percent from the previous year. Only Glenpool showed an increase in its sales tax disbursement. The $422,029 received this month was up 7.8 percent from a year ago. The City of Sand Springs’ use tax disbursement from the OTC for March totaled $27,355 – up $8,587 or 45.9 percent from the $18,748 received in March 2009. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1497 F 067, 2010 The right lane of northbound Highway 97 will be closed at the interchange with the Sand Springs Expressway (US-412/64) from 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 9th, to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 11th, as part of the Wekiwa Road reconstruction project. This lane closure will have the greatest impact on traffic during the morning and evening commutes. Drivers northbound on Highway 97 should expect delays and may want to use alternate routes such as Morrow Road or Second Street. Drivers are also reminded that Wekiwa Road is now closed to westbound thru traffic from Short Street to the Case Community Center as part of the $3.2 million roadway widening project. Two-way traffic still remains open from Highway 97 to Short Street – providing access to businesses in Cimarron Plaza and Cimarron Center. However, drivers wanting to reach River City Park, the Case Community Center, Wellston Park Road industries and Apple Creek Apartments will need to follow a marked detour using Second and Fourth streets to 129th West Avenue. Wekiwa Road will remain open to eastbound traffic throughout the entire widening project.   http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1496 F 067, 2010 The winds of spring blow swiftly most days in March – bringing warmer temperatures and low humidity to awaken the landscape from its brown wintry slumber. It is also the season for wildfires – a mix of weather conditions, dry vegetation, and in many cases, human indiscretion. Sand Springs experienced its first major wildfire March 7th. The blaze started southwest of the city and spread over hundreds of acres of thickly wooded terrain. Area firefighters worked hours on end to keep flames away from houses. Although rains are expected off and on in the coming week, they only temporarily douse the potential for wildfires. “Until the vegetation greens up, rain is just a brief mitigating factor. The fire threat immediately returns when March winds dry out the vegetation and again make it a tinder box for wildfires,” said Sand Springs Fire Chief Mark Joslin.Although winds kept flames fanned during the March 7th fire, Joslin said there are many more days ahead where the winds will be even stronger. One spark can turn into a wind-swept disaster. “It is not uncommon to see days of extreme fire danger in March where all the right weather conditions come together – including sustained winds of 30 or 40 mph or higher,” Joslin said. “We can usually count on long days in the fire service on those days.” Wildfires have always been a part of early Oklahoma spring seasons. However, they have taken on more significance as more people have discovered the benefits of rural living. Also, meteorologists have become more proficient at recognizing fire danger conditions and issuing red flag fire alerts. Sand Springs’ fire service area covers about 70 square miles – including about 50 square miles of rural territory, Joslin said. Rural fire departments such as Keystone, Rock and Green Country provide protection in farther reaches of the 150 square-mile area served by Sand Springs water. Although inter-departmental communication and cooperation has greatly improved firefighting capabilities in recent years, Joslin said the only good fire is one that doesn’t start at all. “There are occasional anomalies that will start a wildfire such as power lines arcing. However, most of them can be linked to human causes,” Joslin said. “It can be something as careless as a discarded cigarette butt or open burning on a windy day. Whatever the cause, the results can be tragic.” Educating residents on ways to protect their properties from wildfires has become a key mission of firefighters. They call it being “Firewise.” The Firewise program was prepared several years ago by a conglomeration of state and federal governmental agencies to provide protection tips to residents before flames are leaping at their doorsteps. Landscaping is a key Firewise component. The primary goal is to create a landscape that reduces fuel for fires. Residents should think of the yard surrounding their home in four zones, Joslin said. The first zone is a mowed and irrigated area surrounding the home for at least 30 feet. Plantings of fire-resistant trees or shrubs should be spaced out so that fire suppression equipment can move about freely in the zone if needed. The next zone should feature low-growing, fire-resistant plants with irrigation available. The third zone should include low-growing plants combined with spaced trees to keep fire fuel sources low. The final zone, farthest from the home, can be left in a natural state provided highly flammable vegetation is removed. “The zones are like protective rings,” Joslin said. “They provide defensible space for residents and firefighters if a wildfire approaches.” The worst scenario is a yard full of tall dead grasses and overgrown trees that is also full of junk and debris, Joslin added. Not only does the fuel potential soar, it prevents residents or firefighters from gaining access to fight back approaching flames. Construction techniques are also important. Homes that use fire-resistant materials such as masonry walls and asphalt shingles can better withstand a wildfire. Smaller paned windows hold up better under intense heat – as do larger windows that are double paned. Covering attic and under-floor vents with wire mesh no greater than 1/8-inch thick will prevent sparks from entering. Gutters, eaves and roofs need to be kept clean of leaves and debris. Decks, porches and fences are also a part of the house and should be made of non-combustible materials where possible. Flammable debris should be kept clear from these structures. “There’s also a human factor in being Firewise,” Joslin said. “Families should have an evacuation plan that can be implemented at a moment’s notice. Not only do they need to be prepared to evacuate their home, they need to have a relocation plan should a wildfire sweep into their neighborhood.” For further information on being Firewise, go to the www.firewise.org website. “I think people have become very aware of the potential for wildfires at this time of the year and the devastation they can cause,” Joslin said. “I hope that attitude and awareness continue in the coming weeks until things green up.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1495 F 065, 2010 Sand Springs residents will be receiving their 2010 census questionnaires in the mail in the next few weeks. It’s now in their hands to be counted. A community website has been established to help citizens understand the importance of an accurate census count – www.sandsprings-youcount.com. In addition to some local information, the website has a link to 2010 census information from the U.S. Census Bureau. It is important that every person living in Sand Springs be counted so that city government, the schools and other agencies and entities can receive an appropriate share of federal funding. The “Sand Springs – You Count” campaign is being coordinated by the City of Sand Springs, Sand Springs Schools and the Sand Springs Area Chamber of Commerce to assure everyone is aware that they need to be counted on National Census Day – April 1st. This year, citizens will only fill out a short form that’s as easy as 10-10-10 – 10 questions, 10 minutes, 10 years. Citizens should be able to complete the form in 10 minutes or less. There are only 10 questions to answer. And, it only has to be done every 10 years.“The census form is easy and only takes a few minutes to complete. An accurate headcount is very important to our community for the next decade – so stand up and be counted on Census Day,” said Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker. Residents who do not return their census information by National Census Day will receive a follow-up mailing and, if necessary, visits from Census Bureau workers to help them complete the form. Participation is required under federal law. When it comes to counting heads, some get missed in Oklahoma. In the 2000 census, only 63 percent of the state’s population actively participated in the census. At the time, about one in six families were asked to fill out a long census form questionnaire detailing extensive information. “The Census Bureau has shifted away from the long form for the decennial census. That in-depth information is now collected periodically through another Census Bureau program called American Community Survey,” said City Planning Director Rachel Clyne. “By using the short form universally on Census Day, there’s less likelihood that people will set it aside.” The short form asks for the number of people living in a household; whether there are other people who are currently not living in the household (such as those attending college or assigned to military duty); whether the household is owned or rented; and a phone number where someone can be contacted should a census worker have a question. It then asks the name, sex and race of each person living in the household – with a specific question whether each person is of Hispanic, Latino and Spanish origin. It also asks if each person living in the household on Census Day sometimes lives elsewhere such as college housing, the military, a seasonal home, a nursing home, in jail or prison, for child custody purposes, or for other reasons. Census information can be received in many languages.  By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s census questionnaire responses with anyone – including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. And, the Census Bureau does not ask for a person’s Social Security Number or any other type of identification number. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1494 F 063, 2010 Contractors have closed Wekiwa Road in Sand Springs to westbound thru traffic from Short Street to the Case Community Center as part of a $3.2 million roadway widening project. Two-way traffic still remains open from Highway 97 to Short Street – providing access to businesses in Cimarron Plaza and Cimarron Center. However, drivers wanting to reach River City Park, the Case Community Center, Wellston Park Road industries and Apple Creek Apartments will need to follow a marked detour using Second and Fourth streets to 129th West Avenue. The roadway will remain open to eastbound traffic throughout the entire project. The current detour should remain in place until late spring. The project will then shift to a second phase limiting travel to the eastbound direction between Short Street and Highway 97. A second detour route will be set up at that time to get traffic to adjacent businesses using Morrow Road and Broad Street. “We realize this is going to cause some inconveniences to drivers who use Wekiwa Road. However, we anticipate that the detours being implemented will get drivers where they need to go with only minimal delays,” said Asst. City Engineer Jesse Vaverka. APAC Oklahoma was the successful bidder for the project. Work is scheduled to be substantially completed by Oct. 31, 2010. The new road will add a center left-turn lane to provide safer access for westbound traffic turning into Cimarron Plaza and Cimarron Center businesses, as well as Hall Addition residences and River City Park. West of River City Park Road, the roadway will transition back to two lanes. The intersection with Highway 97 will be modified for eastbound traffic to provide a dedicated right turn lane, a center lane where vehicles can access the Sand Springs Expressway or turn right, and a dedicated left turn lane. A 10-foot sidewalk will be built along the south side of the roadway to give pedestrians access to commercial areas, River City Park and the Case Center. The existing box culvert spanning Franklin Creek will be extended to the south. The road’s surface will be concrete throughout its entire .7-mile length. New traffic signals equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting will be installed at the Wekiwa Road-Highway 97 intersection. Work will not disturb the white vinyl fencing installed by the City between Wekiwa Road and the expressway.    Federal Surface Transportation Program funds administered by ODOT and INCOG are paying for 80 percent of the eligible construction costs. The City has funded $1.3 million for engineering, right-of-way acquisition and public utility relocation costs; ODOT engineering and review fees; and the remaining 20 percent of construction costs. Funds came from a city bond issue approved by voters in 2002. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1493 F 060, 2010 Every hour of every day, raw water flows from Skiatook Lake to treatment plants in Sand Springs and Sapulpa to keep both communities awash in safe life-sustaining water. The system was first brought on-line in 1992 and became the main source for each city’s water supply a few years later. Failure is not an option. Therefore, once every three years, the line is shut down for an extensive checkup. That tri-annual checkup is slated to begin March 8th and conclude on March 19th. The 11,500 customers served by Sand Springs’ water utility should not notice the shutdown. Water from the City’s Shell Lake will be used to keep supplies adequate. Sand Springs also has emergency water supply connections with the City of Tulsa if needed. “We pick early spring to do our tri-annual maintenance because water consumption is historically low and the weather is usually cooperative,” said Frank Weigle, Raw Water Division Supervisor with the City’s Public Works Department.The Skiatook system is a joint venture between the cities of Sand Springs and Sapulpa. Raw water is drawn from Skiatook Lake and then pumped through an 18-mile, 36-inch pipeline to a location near Sand Springs’ River City Park. The system then divides into two 24-inch lines to serve treatment plans in each city. Sand Springs’ water treatment plant is located at Morrow Road and Highway 97. Although Skiatook water is used as Sand Springs’ primary drinking water source, the City can still draw on Shell Lake water – which served as the community’s sole drinking water source for 70 years. Water treatment employees have recently been mixing Skiatook and Shell Lake water to assure quality consistency during the system’s shutdown. Tri-annual system maintenance includes a thorough inspection of the pump station’s mechanical and electrical components, and its surge protection systems. Weigle explained surge protection is necessary to keep 18 miles of water from flowing back into the pumps should a power outage occur or system malfunction occur. Along the pipeline, workers will “exercise” each of the 10 large “butterfly” valves located at key points along the route. They’ll also drain the pipeline by exercising the “blow-off” valves. Weigle explained that should a portion of the system ever need to be isolated for maintenance or emergency repairs, the valves allow the corresponding portion of the pipeline to be shut off and drained. The pipeline’s concrete lining will also be inspected for wear. Crews will also drain and clean one of the system’s two 2-million-gallon water storage tanks located near the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino. “The Skiatook System performs well day in and day out because of the scheduled maintenance we do to keep the line, pumps, tanks and vales in good working order,” Weigle said. “It’s like a car. If you do good scheduled maintenance, it should keep running for a long time.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1492 F 055, 2010 Tulsa Technology Center will be taking on a significant new presence in Sand Springs as it prepares to break ground on a highly-visibly stand-alone campus at the former Sand Springs Ford dealership, 924 E. Charles Page Blvd. Tulsa Tech is making a long-term investment in the Sand Springs community with the purchase of the former Ford dealership property from the John Rudy family. Tulsa Tech plans to renovate the existing structures to meet the needs of high school and adult students through two construction phases. The property contains 6.6 acres with two buildings totaling 31,000 sq. ft. of space. Tulsa Tech currently has limited campus facilities at Charles Page High School. “The purchase of this property is the culmination of Tulsa Tech’s search for the right space to move Tech programs from the high school to be more accessible for the entire community to help spur the growth of economic development through education,” said Dr. Kara Gae Neal, Tulsa Tech Superintendent and CEO. Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker deemed the announcement one of the community’s most beneficial achievements in recent years – noting it had been a major goal within the City’s and other local institutions’ strategic plans for years. “The future vitality of our community and region lies in developing resources for an educated workforce. Tulsa Tech’s enhanced investment in our community is a giant step forward for Sand Springs and provides one more great reason for people and businesses to relocate here,” Walker said. He added: “It’s always terrific to see a major community goal accomplished, and I am grateful to Tulsa Tech for their confidence in Sand Springs, and to John Rudy and each of those persons who helped bring about this important development.” Architects for the renovation and expansion project are PSA Dewberry. The construction Manager is Flintco Constructive Solutions. The first construction element, scheduled to be completed this summer, will be a Tulsa Tech Success Center – the fifth such center in the Tulsa area. It will offer a high-tech, computerized learning lab staffed with teachers and career/college counselors featuring job search assistance, continued education guidance, high school credit recovery and credit advancement, GED, ACT and SAT preparation assistance, as well as traditional academic remediation for ages 12 through adult. Programs slated to move to the campus in August of 2011 include; Carpentry Technology, Construction and Design Academy, Cosmetology, Graphics and Imaging Technology and Health Science Technology. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1491 F 055, 2010 Because of the possibility of inclement weather this Thursday evening, the water line work associated with the Wekiwa Road widening project has been moved to Monday evening, March 1. The working hours will remain unchanged with work performed between the hours of 11 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday, March 2. Customers along Wekiwa Road west of the Case Community Center to Candlestick Beach, along with customers located along the north side of Highway 412, will have service interruptions during the overnight work period.  Areas affected include Sandel  Mobile Home Park, Country Meadows Estates, Tanglewood Mobile Home Park, Wekiwa Hills, Expressway Acres, Apple Creek Apartments, Wellston Park Road industries and Candlestick Beach. Residents located in the Anderson School area (south of Anderson Road & east of 177th West Avenue) will also be affected, as will residents along 193rd West Avenue. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1490 F 055, 2010 With most Oklahoma cities and towns struggling to make ends meet in a tough economy, unfunded mandates resulting from newly enacted state legislation can be a budget breaker. Officials in cities and towns throughout Oklahoma, along with a number of Chambers of Commerce, are supporting legislation introduced by Speaker of the House Chris Benge, R-Sand Springs, which would require “Fiscal Impact Statements” on legislation that has a direct adverse fiscal impact on municipal finances. Additionally, any measure with an adverse impact on municipalities over $100,000 would not be considered for adoption until the following legislative session. Sand Springs City Council adopted a resolution at its Feb. 22 meeting supporting Speaker Benge’s bill, the “Municipal Fiscal Impact Act.” The bill, HB 3054, was passed out of the House General Government Committee during a Feb. 16 hearing. The bill recognizes that unfunded mandates on Oklahoma municipalities hurt citizens and business owners – most of whom live, work and shop in municipalities, said City Manager Douglas Enevoldsen. It also provides more information to lawmakers – enabling them to better understand the impact of bills on their constituents. “It allows time for legislators to fully evaluate the merits and impacts of legislation, as well as the necessity for its mandated expenses, prior to adoption,” Enevoldsen said. “For cities and towns, it provides time to plan and budget for new expenses.” Additionally, the measure provides time for municipalities to explore with lawmakers alternative legislation that can accomplish the same tasks with minimal or no fiscal impact. It also reduces the potential for unintended consequences by encouraging better cooperation and understanding of such legislation. “Cities and towns are Oklahoma’s economic engine. Their ability to provide critical safety and quality of life services is integral to the well-being of schools, businesses, and virtually all other institutions,” Enevoldsen said. “Oklahoma cannot have a healthy state economy without having healthy, functioning cities and towns.” The Municipal Fiscal Impact Act is one of the first steps in a “Healthy Cities – Healthy Oklahoma” initiative to improve the long-term financial health of municipalities, and in turn, the state economy. By thoroughly evaluating the need for unfunded mandates, it helps to “stop the financial bleeding” cities and towns experience when state legislation is passed that mandates expenditures without any funding, Enevoldsen said. “An unfunded mandate is like passing a tax or fee hike on local businesses and residents,” he said. “Cities and towns are on the front lines of providing basic governmental services, and very often the financial resources do not exist to fund new laws without either reducing other services or potentially enacting some sort of tax or fee hike.” The measure is a top priority of diverse groups such as the Coalition of Tulsa Area Governments, Oklahoma Municipal League and the Tulsa Metro Chamber – which included some 34 different chambers and cities that embraced it in their 2010 “One Voice” agenda. “We are very pleased that Speaker Benge is leading the effort to get this legislation enacted,” said Sand Springs Mayor Bob Walker. “The headlines are everywhere about Oklahoma cities and towns in crisis. Although this measure certainly is not a cure for that, it limits our exposure to unfunded surprises at a time when we can least afford them, and establishes a dialogue between us and state leaders about our future financial health.” He added: “This measure offers a fiscally responsible approach to legislating and one that will benefit the majority of Oklahomans who rely on cities and towns for their protection and prosperity.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1489 F 054, 2010 Water line work related to the Wekiwa Road widening project is scheduled for Thursday night, Feb. 25. Work is planned between the hours of 11 p.m. Thursday and  2 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Customers located along Wekiwa Road west of the Case Community Center to Candlestick Beach will be without water. This includes the Sandel  Mobile Home Park and the Country Meadows Estates housing addition. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1488 F 054, 2010 Sand Springs city officials have begun developing departmental budgets for the 2011 fiscal year which begins July 1 – an ordinary task for this time of year. However, the new budget will likely be anything but ordinary, according to City Manager Douglas Enevoldsen. Revenue sources such as the City’s sales tax collections have varied erratically in recent months, making it a major challenge to set a financial forecast for the coming year. One thing is certain – there will be significantly less money to work with than the current budget. “Like all other cities in our region, we are feeling the effects of the national economic recession. Our budget planning and spending restraint over the past two years has kept us functioning even with significant revenue losses. However, we must now build a budget that is sustainable for the long term, and that means changes in what services we provide and how we provide them,” Enevoldsen said. At the direction of City Council’s Finance Committee, reductions from the current fiscal year budget of 5, 10 and 15 percent will be prepared for each City department and division. In dollar terms, the overall reductions equate to $935,000, $1.87 million, and $2.81 million respectively. Mayor Bob Walker, who chairs the Finance Committee, said the three scenarios will help Council fully assess its options once revenues sources are refined this spring. A formal budget is expected to be adopted in May. “These are very difficult times for everyone. Families are making adjustments to make ends meet, and the City must do the same to live within its means,” Walker said. “City staff has done an outstanding job to contain costs, but we must look at our entire organizational model to assure that it reflects what will likely be an economic reality for several years. Our current organizational model is not sustainable.” There are no plans to pursue a general tax increase to bolster the budget, Walker said. City fees will be evaluated to assure they are covering the cost of services. The City Manager and department heads have voluntarily agreed to take a furlough day each month through the end of the current fiscal year. Enevoldsen explained furloughs, by their nature, are only a temporary solution to a deeper issue. “We can no longer do all the things that we have done in the past. The resources are not there,” he said. Individual department heads will be assessing what budget reductions can best maintain essential services, for consideration by the City’s budget team and Council Finance Committee, Enevoldsen said. “All aspects of our operations will be looked at to see where savings can be found,” he said. “It is too early in the process to say where this will lead, but the City’s management team has taken hold of the task with the understanding that the overall budget must reflect a new economic day.” Enevoldsen noted funds usually used for capital projects will be held in reserve for emergencies. Walker concluded the budget process is “gut-wrenching” for all involved. However, City government will get through it as it has many other issues in recent years – using cooperation, collaboration and communication with its community partners. “Our long-term economic outlook looks stronger than that of a number of our fellow Oklahoma communities, but it will likely be several years before that growth begins to fill the City’s coffers,” Walker said. “We’re in perhaps the toughest time financially in modern memory, and we must live within our means to get through it until things begin improving.”   http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1487 F 052, 2010 Sand Springs Police Chief Daniel Bradley may not do a lot of traffic enforcement these days, but the importance he places on it for saving lives and reducing property damages from vehicle collisions earned him distinguished recognition recently. Bradley received the Michael J. Garner Safety Advocate Award for exceptional performance in the area of traffic safety through the use of enforcement, public information and education, and prevention efforts designed to reduce traffic collisions and their resulting injuries and deaths. Other SSPD Officers receiving recognition during the 17th Annual Oklahoma Buckledown Awards Banquet were Sgt. Kyle Alexander, Lt. David LaCroix, Capt. John Mars, Sgt. John Tillman, and Lt. Greg Fisher (retired). “I didn’t win this award, our officers did,” Bradley said, evoking his usual humility. “They are the heart and soul of our traffic enforcement efforts, and their dedication to keeping drivers safe is a testament to the outstanding individuals we have serving in our Police Department.” He added: “Nobody likes to get a traffic ticket, and police officers often find it hard to give citations. However, they also know that a traffic citation may save a life or prevent someone from getting hurt by reminding drivers that traffic laws are there to protect them.” Bradley joined the Sand Springs Police Department in 1980 and rose through the ranks to become Chief in 1995. Early in his career, he had to make a decision whether to issue a citation to a driver or just issue a warning. He chose only a warning. That driver eventually was involved in a fatality collision. “That has stuck with me, and it made me realize the importance of traffic safety,” he said. Damages from traffic collisions are more costly to Sandites than the combined losses from all other property crimes Sand Springs police investigate. Add injuries and fatalities, and it is a very serious element of law enforcement. “We have increased our public education and enforcement efforts in recent years – especially in accident-prone areas. We can directly see reductions in the number and severity of accidents due to our efforts,” Bradley said. Although drivers grimace at citations, Bradley said he has received several complimentary letters and e-mails about the officers’ professional and courteous conduct. He credits that to the officers’ years of experience and commitment to Sand Springs. “They take ownership in the Department, its missions and our community,” he said. Bradley’s award is no accident, according to Asst. Chief Mike Carter, who prepared his nomination. “He is known as a cop’s cop. … He encourages his officers to bring forward good ideas and help the department meet its mission, while maintaining the integrity that is the centerpiece of his management style,” Carter said. Traffic safety in Sand Springs has taken on many forms and functions, Carter said. Perhaps the most unique is using the Police Department’s mounted horse patrol to catch violators. “As violators are caught on radar by one mounted officer, they are reported by radio and stopped by the other mounted officer a block away,” Carter said. “Most violators can only stare in disbelief as they take their citations from Chief Bradley and the other mounted officers.” On the other end of the technological spectrum, Bradley has fully embraced the use of DigiTicket electronic citation devices. It lessens the time Sand Springs police officers are at the side of the road with traffic violators – getting them and the officers on their separate ways sooner. He has also supported bond funding that put computers in police vehicles.   City Manager Douglas Enevoldsen noted Chief Bradley in a standout leader for all City departments. “He takes the mission of police work very seriously, and continually strives to keep the Police Department among the finest and most respected in the state,” Enevoldsen said. “His dedication to this community, his police officers, other city employees and our citizens is highly commendable. He is certainly a cop’s cop, but he is also a leader’s leader.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1486 F 043, 2010 In 2008, Sand Springs has an estimated population of 18,459 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up nearly 6 percent from the actual 2000 census count of 17,451. In the 1990s, the city grew about 14 percent. Although city officials believe the actual population count on the 2010 Census Day, April 1st, will be higher than the most recent estimate, the overall growth pattern remains in what they term a comfortable range. “We have had steady and sustained growth that has brought us prosperity for many years without the headaches of sudden, massive growth,” said City Planning and Development Director Rachel Clyne. “There are many factors that determine a community’s growth patterns, and most Sandites seem pretty comfortable with our pace.” So how will Sand Springs add up in the 2010 census headcount? A lot will depend on every person filling out their census forms and turning them in. For its part, City staff has worked with the Census Bureau over the past year to get its data on Sand Springs thoroughly updated. “The census people are very knowledgeable about what they do, and they are also very accommodating to local information for accuracy. They don’t want to miss a single household or a single soul,” Clyne said. The 2000 census told its own story about Sand Springs. At the time, the city was the 24th largest in Oklahoma. The population characteristics mirrored those in the nation. Of the 17,451 citizens in the city limits, 8,393 were male (49.1%) and 9,058 were female (51.9%). Nationally, women outnumbered men 50.9% to 49.1% respectively. The median ago of a Sandite in 2000 was 35.1 years old. The national average was 35.3 years old. And, the average household size locally was 2.59 persons – right on with the national average. The average family size of 3.05 persons per family was just under the national average of 3.14. There were 6,564 occupied housing units in Sand Springs in 2000. Nearly three-quarters of those were owner-occupied – well above the national average of about two-thirds owner occupancy. Around 82 percent of Sandites over age 25 were high school graduates – just a little above the national average. However, only 17.5 percent of Sandites had obtained at least a college bachelor’s degree. The statewide average for college graduates was 20.3 percent, and the national average was 25 percent. Only 3 percent of the city’s population spoke a language other than English in 2000. The median household income in Sand Springs was $40,380 in 2000 – slightly below the national average of $41,994. The median family income was $47,258 – also slightly below the national average of $50,046. About 9 percent of individuals and 7 percent of families in Sand Springs lived below the poverty line – both numbers below the national averages of about 11.3 and 8.6 percent respectively. The average value of a home in Sand Springs was $80,400 – well below the national average of $119,600. Including mortgage, the average monthly cost to own a home in Sand Springs was around $800 – a reflection of lower housing costs in Oklahoma that give the state a competitive advantage with people or businesses looking to relocate. Nationally, the monthly cost to own a home in 2000 averaged nearly $1,100. More information on the 2010 census will soon be available on a local Website: www.sandsprings-youcount.com. “Since the 2010 Census Day headcount will focus on people, we will have to wait until ongoing American Community Survey data becomes available locally to measure some of the changes that have occurred over the past decade. However, I would anticipate that those changes would mostly be positive. For example, we have added around 700 new housing units in the past 10 years with significant increases in value while also removing notable portions of our older housing stock.” She added: “The 2000 census showed Sand Springs to be the typical American community. We’ve grown and adapted as other communities have over the last decade, and I anticipate we’ll continue to be a healthy reflection of America in 2010.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1485 F 042, 2010 A section of eastbound I-244 along the northwest corner and north leg of the Inner Dispersal Loop in downtown Tulsa will be closed starting at 9 a.m. Friday to make pavement repairs. The repairs will last through the weekend, and work crews expect to have the roadway reopened Monday. Despite recent repair efforts following harsh winter weather, this section of older pavement continues to deteriorate. Crews are counting on a possible break in freezing temperatures this weekend to allow them to remove areas of the top portion of the older pavement, and replace with a new layer of asphalt. This type of work requires temperatures well above the freezing mark in order for the new pavement to properly set. By closing this entire section all at once, the sections with pavement problems are able to be more intensely addressed on a larger scale. WHAT THIS MEANS TO SAND SPRINGS DRIVERS: The northwest transition from the IDL to the Sand Springs Expressway (westbound US-412/US-64/SH-51) will remain open. However, traffic will not be able to proceed eastbound on I-244 from that point. Eastbound traffic from Sand Springs into Tulsa will need to exit onto the newly-opened west leg of the IDL, then loop south and east around downtown Tulsa using US 75 to rejoin I-244 eastbound at the northeast corner of the IDL. Traffic delays should be expected throughout the weekend. Drivers are urged to find an alternate route, or if not an option, to follow the speed limit change in this area, which is now 45 mph, and be alert for work crews. Alternative routes include using Edison Street, Charles Page Boulevard, Avery Drive/21st Street, or 41st or 51st streets between Sand Springs and Tulsa. It is necessary to keep this area of eastbound I-244 in working order, until it can be reconstructed as planned later this spring, according to a media release from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The north and west legs of the Inner Dispersal Loop are currently undergoing a $75 million federal stimulus-funded reconstruction to address the aging and deteriorating condition of the pavement and bridge decks. Currently, the westbound direction of the north leg remains closed as part of this project. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1484 F 042, 2010 Ongoing efforts by the City of Sand Springs and other communities in the Tulsa area may have citizens running into and out of town on a rail. An Alternatives Analysis study which will be coordinated by INCOG beginning this spring will look at the feasibility of using existing freight railroad corridors to develop future transit opportunities for citizens. Implementation is likely decades away, according to Sand Springs City Manager Douglas Enevoldsen. “It may seem unusual to be embarking on such a far reaching journey at a time when most cities are focusing on the challenges of maintaining their essential services. However, we have to start somewhere. The opportunity is available to partner with other communities in the region to look down the line and plan the future of our mobility,” Enevoldsen said. “Many cities have found that transit alternatives offer several benefits,” he added. “Building rail transit systems that utilize existing facilities cost considerably less than the current $100 million cost to build a mile of expressway through an urban area. They also stimulate economic development, enhance the quality of life for the communities they reach, and are environmentally friendly alternatives to the automobile. This sort of project can be so important to our community’s future growth and prosperity.” Enevoldsen noted the City’s history is wrapped in transit alternatives. The Sand Springs Railway provided interurban trolley service between the city and downtown Tulsa until the mid 1950s. The study will potentially look at the feasibility of reusing some of the Railway’s available right-of-way for a new commuter rail line. Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby and Owasso may also be able to use existing rail lines that radiate from downtown Tulsa to their respective communities. The Alternatives Analysis study will specifically look at system costs and benefits, as well as community impacts and financial feasibility. Additionally, it will look at the most practical technology, route alignments, capital and operating costs, transit market analysis, environmental impacts and the benefits of each transit mode. The “Locally Preferred Alternative” would be selected after full disclosure of the costs, benefits and impacts of all alternatives. Once that is chosen, the region can begin to approach the Federal Transit Administration to move toward implementation and possibly sharing in the cost of development. “We’re likely looking at a five to 10 year process, at the minimum, once the Locally Preferred Alternative is selected,” Enevoldsen said. “There will be extensive public involvement throughout the entire process, and I would certainly encourage interested citizens to become involved when that time comes. The future of how we get from our community to others in the region lies in this process.” In addition to the regional steering committee, a regional stakeholder committee will be formed of firms, neighborhoods, institutions and entities that have a stake in the system’s development. Also, a technical committee will be formed of regional engineers and environmental officials. “I don’t expect to be catching a train from Sand Springs to downtown Tulsa anytime soon, but we’re engaging in a regional study here that will likely be critical for our future generations,” Enevoldsen said. “For many reasons, we must begin rethinking how we move about in our region. This study gets us underway.” http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1483 F 040, 2010 Sand Springs Ward 2 City Council candidate Kathy McFarland submitted a withdrawal affidavit to the City Clerk’s office on Feb. 9th -- withdrawing her candidacy in the March 2nd primary election. Incumbent Ward 2 Councilor Dean Nichols remains the only active candidate for the seat. Incumbent Ward 1 Councilor Michael Phillips did not draw any opposition in his re-election bid.With no races to be decided, City Council voted at a Feb. 11th special meeting to cancel the primary election. Phillips and Nichols will be seated for new three-year terms on the Council during its reorganizational meeting May 3rd.      http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1482 F 040, 2010 Sand Springs City Council approved an ordinance at its Feb. 8th meeting authorizing the sale of 25 acres of land near 81st West Avenue and Old North Road for $225,000 for development of a new elementary school by the Sand Springs School District. Voters in the Sand Springs School District overwhelmingly approved a bond issue last fall to build the new school. “We are pleased to work with our partners at Sand Springs schools to facilitate this sale. The new elementary school is another major step in our community’s transformation, and the site will offer ample land to develop a model campus,” said Mayor Bob Walker. The sale should be finalized this spring, said Asst. City Manager Kevin Nelson. School officials have filed an application with the City’s Planning Department for a Specific Use Permit to build a school on the site. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1481 F 040, 2010 Sand Springs has joined a number of other communities in Oklahoma fighting back against the effects of homes contaminated by methamphetamine manufacturing on future occupants. Property owners who discover that methamphetamine or other noxious, hazardous or toxic substances have been manufactured or processed on their properties must notify Sand Springs police and have the contaminated area tested and remediated by a nationally certified cleanup firm. The process would also be implemented should police find such conditions. City Council adopted an ordinance outlining the new regulations during its Feb. 8 meeting. The ordinance’s emergency clause allows it to become effective on Sunday, Feb. 14. “Like other communities in Oklahoma, Sand Springs is taking steps to protect our citizens from the dangers of methamphetamine. In addition to the harm caused by the drug itself, the manufacture of meth often leaves harmful contaminants and residues in the houses, buildings or properties where the activities occurred,” said Asst. Police Chief Mike Carter. Once police have been notified of possible contamination, the property will be placarded by the City’s code enforcement officer or building official to prevent occupancy until testing is performed and the property deemed remediated. Carter explained a nationally certified firm that specializes in environmental remediation would initially test the property to determine whether unsafe levels of contamination exist. There are several firms in the Tulsa area that hold such certifications. The ordinance spells out contamination levels in detail. If the test concludes that there are no contaminants, the property is released for occupancy. If the test concludes that contamination exists, then the firm must remediate the property and perform another test to certify that it is safe for occupancy. Carter noted that severely contaminated properties could be expensive to remediate. “However, there are plenty of stories out there in Oklahoma and nationally where unsuspecting families have moved into contaminated homes and developed health issues from the drug messes the previous occupants left behind,” he said. “We don’t want that in our community, and I am confident that our property owners and landlords will do their part to assure contamination issues are addressed properly as outlined in the ordinance.” The ordinance also covers contaminated mobile homes that are moved into the city limits. Carter noted some cities are requiring that all mobile homes moved into their communities be tested for contamination before occupancy. “We evaluated that option, but felt it would be an onerous burden on people who are moving mobile homes here that have no contamination issues,” he said. “Our ardent recommendation would be that owners should check for contamination for their own protection if they cannot establish the mobile home’s past ownership or occupant history.” Violators of the ordinance’s provisions could face maximum $200 fines plus court costs for each day the violation occurs. It does not preclude the pursuit of other civil or criminal penalties.  Property owners or occupants with questions about the ordinance can call Carter at 246-2534. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1480 F 039, 2010 MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2 p.m. – Although moderate to heavy snow fell in parts of Sand Springs this morning, temperatures at or above freezing kept most of it from sticking to the ground or on area streets and highways. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday, and additional bands of snow are expected throughout the day and into this evening. However, the latest National Weather Service data indicates only about an inch of snow accumulation is expected. Arctic air and stiff winds will become the storyline overnight tonight. Tuesday morning wind chill indexes are expected to be in the single digits. Cold temperatures are expected to stay in place through mid-week.  Area streets and highways were primarily reported to be wet at 1:30 p.m. City Street Divisions crews are mobilized with plow and sanding trucks, and will work an around-the-clock schedule as necessary to plow and treat arterial and residential collector streets. City plow and sanding routes do not include individual residential streets. For a map of plow and sanding routes, visit the City’s website at www.sandspringsok.org and click on the “snow plow route” link below the page header. http://sandspringsok.org/news-entry.php?cat=1063&id=1479 F 039, 2010 MONDAY, FEB. 8, 10 a.m. – Moderate to heavy snow began falling in Sand Springs around 9 a.m. this morning as another round of wintry weather descended upon the Sand Springs area. A Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service office in Tulsa is in effect through 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. According to the latest NWS data, the Sand Springs area can expect to receive about 4½ inches of snow before the storm exits the area overnight tonight.  Winds will pick up during the day and may cause blowing snow conditions. The most significant snows are expected to occur during the mid- to late-afternoon hours. Commuters should prepare for this occurrence by planning routes home that avoid hilly roadways as much as possible. Roads such as 41st Street between Highway 97 and Berryhill, and Highway 97-T north of the Sand Springs Expressway should be avoided. Both roadways will be closed if conditions become extreme to avoid motorists becoming stranded. Signage has been posted on both roadways alerting drivers to possible closures due to inclement weather. Streets and highways were become slushy in spots as of 10 a.m. City Street Divisions crews are mobilized with plow and sanding trucks, and will work an around-the-clock schedule as necessary to plow and treat arterial and residential collector streets. City plow and sanding routes do not include individual residential streets. For a map of plow and sanding routes, visit the City’s website at www.sandspringsok.org and click on the “snow plow route” link below the page header. After the storm passes, the area will be gripped with very cold temperatures as an arctic air mass takes hold for several days. Wind chills will be in the single digits to low teens through Thursday. That’s when yet another winter storm may affect the area. 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