Voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Fund Election approved the $1.7 million downtown community green space project and contracts have been approved to move ahead with the project.
At Monday’s City Council meeting in Bartlesville, the city council agreed to approve a contract with GFAC Engineering, which will provide geotechnical engineering services for the Tower Center at Unity Square. They also approved a contract with Jonesplan LLC to provide construction management to the project. In November, the city council approved a concept design for the project, provided pro-bono by Ambler Architects. GFAC Engineering will provide a geotechnical analysis of the soils in the proposed stage area for a footing/foundation design for the proposed structures, which consists of an awning, bathroom and storage room. The cost for the services will be $3,900. Jonesplan LLC will complete their contract in two phases. Cost for pre-construction services will be $17,120 and will be complete by April. The Skiatook Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly luncheon tomorrow starting at noon. It will take place at the First Baptist Church located at 940 W. Oak Street in Skiatook.
Cost is $7 per person and you are encouraged to bring business cards to network and get chamber updates. Judge Kane will also swear in the new board members. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 918-396-3702. On Dec. 30, 2018 Michael Walker Sr. was arrested on charges of attempted arson, threats to kill and a violation of protective order.
At approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to 1304 S. Armstrong in Bartlesville in regards to Walker attempting to catch the residence on fire with a lighter. Upon arriving at the scene, dispatch was able to confirm that the victim had a protective order against Mr. Walker that was served on Dec. 23. The victim stated that just prior to calling police, she smelled burnt plastic. She went outside to investigate and found a silver lighter on the seal of a broken window. Above the lighter was a burnt area on the white window pane and part of the plastic had been melted away. Inside the “trigger” of the lighter was a broken piece of wood, which was used to try and keep the flame lit. Mr. Walker had sent a number of threatening texts to the victim. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. Bond is set at $50,000. The Osage County Commissioners met on Monday morning and discussed a wide array of issues. Monday also marked the first meeting that Randall Jones served as County Commissioner for District number one.
The first item of business was to select a new chairman for 2019. It was decided that Darren McKinney will serve in that role, while Kevin Pasley will be the vice-chairman and Randall Jones will be the second-chair. Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts was on hand to give an update on how things had been going in the county over the past couple months. He said his workers had done a great job responding to the two tornadoes back in the fall and even the first grass fire of the season here recently. Roberts added Osage County has signed up for a grant allowing the citizens of Osage County to sign up for a storm shelter. They have until March to take advantage of the grant. The Director of Osage County Planning and Zoning Jake Bruno was also there to talk about some of the problems he sees in the low lying areas of the county. Bruno added that Duke Energy is looking to add to its wind farm in Osage County in partnership with Amshore Wind Energy. Four sheriff's vehicles were damaged. Three of them were hit by a deer and the other was hit by a tree. The County Commissioners paid for two of the four vehicles out of their deductible fund. The next regular scheduled county commissioner meeting will be next Monday at 10 o' clock in the morning at the courthouse in Pawhuska. Randall Jones defeated Jerry Howerton in November’s general election to take over as Osage County Commissioner in District 1. Jones was sworn in on Wednesday, but I had a chance to talk to with Howerton about his time with the county and what he is looking forward to about retirement.
Prior to his two-year term as County Commissioner, Howerton had been an assistant under previous commissioners and was also a road supervisor for six years. Howerton says serving under the previous commissioners helped prepare him for the last two years. Howerton says it will take some time adjusting to retirement. Howerton and Jones have worked together for 25 years and will be working together for the next month. The Bartlesville City Council will meet Monday evening at City Hall and board members will look to appoint and approve a number of items.
Ed Gordon will be appointed to a three-year term on the Bartlesville Area History Museum Authority. Bruce Kinkade will be appointed to a three-year term on the Construction and Fire Codes of Appeals Board. Timothy Hamilton will also be re-appointed for an additional three years to the Park Board. Fletcher Daniels, Bill Wentz and Eric Wentz will also be appointed to their respective positions. The councilmen will look to approve two resolutions and approve five contracts. The city manager will also give a report. The meeting begins at 7 o’ clock for those interested in attending. The Osage County Commissioners will meet Monday morning and will get updates on how things are going around the county from a number of different people.
Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts will be there to give a safety update. Director of Osage County E911 Services Kay Kelley will be on hand to give a 911 update. Director of Osage County Planning and Zoning Jake Bruno will also be on hand to give an update. There will be possible action taken regarding damage to four sheriff’s vehicle’s, which would be paid out of the deductible fund. The County Commissioners will also elect a chairman, vice chairman and second vice chairman for 2019. The meeting starts at 10 o’ clock at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska for anyone interested in attending. The Barnsdall Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting Monday afternoon at the Community Center and a lot of fun items will be discussed.
The 66th annual Big Heart Day will take place from May 24th through the 26th and the board members will begin initial planning of the event. They will also talk about the Easter Egg Hunt on April 20. There will be an update on school construction, along with any other activity going on at the school. Upcoming events in the city of Barnsdall include dinner and bingo for those over 50. The meeting starts at noon for those interested in attending. The Osage County Fairgrounds will be holding a saddle-roping event this Saturday in Pawhuska.
There will be a $40 saddle fee and the roping starts in the morning. The 12 slide team ropers can enter the arena at 9 and the event starts at 10:30. The 11 and 9 team roping starts at 2 in the afternoon. The high point winner of the day will receive a $2,500 saddle certificate built the way you want it by Lance Horner. For more information, contact Thomas Smith at 918-766-2190 or Jake Folk at 918-244-5253. The Osage County Fairgrounds are located at 320 Skyline Drive in Pawhuska. The Osage Nation Museum in Pawhuska has opened its newest exhibit today, “Patriot Nations: Native Americans in our Nation’s Armed Forces.”
From 5 until 7 this evening, the museum will host an opening night reception detailing the many Osage Native Americans who have taken the call to arms dating back to World War I. Admission is free to the event and light refreshments will be made available. The 16 panel exhibit has been loaned out from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and will be on display through June 12. The exhibit is located at 819 Grandview Ave. in Pawhuska. For more information, call 918-287-5441. |
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