Employees for the Pawhuska Public Works Department have been putting in some long hours over the past month, as Director Mark Chamberlain reports that there were 26 line breaks. Because of this, Chamberlain says crew members have been working six and a half days a week. In addition to battling the summer heat, Chamberlain says they have also began working on a major project dealing with the water reservoir.
Crews are attempting to inspect and clean up to 5,000 feet of sewer lines each month. They are hoping to join the Osage Nation in working on a project as well. The Osage Nation will be holding a public meeting next Thursday at the Pawhuska Community Center regarding the possibility of adding an outdoor health complex and the amenities that could go along with that. Susan Bayro goes into more detail.
Bayro estimates it will cost between 11 and 17 million dollars to construct the complex, but it will be open for the entire community to use. Next Thursday's meeting begins at 6 p.m. In coordination with the free dump day that Osage County is putting together on Saturday, September 11th, the City of Pawhuska will be holding an event on that same day. City Manager Tonya Bright explains what will be happening.
Bright said items with freon inside, such as refrigerators and air conditioners won't be accepted. It will take place at the City yard. She also said that the road repairs along 10th and Kihekah Ave. will be repaired by Tuesday. At Tuesday evening's city council meeting in Pawhuska, Police Chief Lorrie Hennesy alerted council members of a problem that her officers have been noticing more and more as of late. She says it deals with an ordinance that needs to begin getting enforced.
Hennesy says all that Pawhuska Police Officers can do is tell the occupants of the home to leave, but there is nothing saying they can't return to the premises. The City Attorney gives his take on the matter. Hennesy estimates that she has dealt with at least 12 different individuals without utilities in the City of Pawhuska. Chief of Staff at the Pawhuska Hospital, Cameron Rumsey recently spoke to Pawhuska School Board members about what he thought of where the State stood regarding the fight against COVID-19 and how things are at the local level as well. He says heading into the school year, cases are definitely on the rise.
Rumsey goes on to talk about what the added pressure on hospitals means for the general public. Nurse Practitioner Heather Arrington said she is seeing a shift in the sort of people she is treating for COVID-19. Rumsey says he is unsure if the pediatric cases will remain mild or turn more severe. He says it will take more cases to see what may come of it. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Board of Osage County Commissioners have been granting its employees an additional 80 hours of paid sick should they need to use it. The Board had the option t renew that resolution at Monday's meeting and District One Commissioner Randall Jones gave an example of why it would be a good idea to continue doing that.
The Board signed a resolution that extends that agreement through the end of the year. With school starting on Thursday, Bartlesville Public Schools has been elevated to the red alert level when dealing with COVID-19. Executive Director of Technology and Communications, Granger Meador explains what that means.
Seating capacity at indoor and outdoor events has also been instituted as a result as the rise to the red alert level. Meador says the school has been at the red alert level since August 1st, but they hadn't sent out an alert until Tuesday. Meador says for more information, you can visit bpslearn.com. Again masks are only being recommended on school grounds and not required. Samaritan Counseling and Growth Inc. will be putting on the Samaritan Sports Spectacular is on Saturday, August 28th. Ater taking a year off due to COVID-19, a big name in former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer will be on hand as this year's speaker. Chairwoman of the Samaritan Sports Spectacular, Kristin Curd says it is much more than just that, though.
Samaritan Counseling and Growth Inc. is always looking for donations and Executive Director Larry Cowan details what the organization does. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown Bartlesville. Tickets cost $50 and to purchase that ticket, go to supportsamaritan.org. You can also donate at 918-336-1463. At Monday's Osage County Commissioners meeting, Board members were presented with numbers showing that COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise. Last week, District Three Commissioner Darren McKinney said if he continued to see that steady rise, he would make the recommendation that a mask mandate be put in place at county-owned buildings. Here is what McKinney said on Monday.
Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden said it is important to take steps to safe from the virus, but pointed out that not everyone will be able to abide by a mask mandate and that his belief is that COVID-19 is here to stay. A citizen in the audience raised concerns about a mask mandate and the possibility of rolling back other services as the commissioners had done when the pandemic first began. Here is what District One Commissioner Randall Jones had to say on the matter There are some people who are unable to wear masks due to health concerns. Virden was concerned a mask mandate could end in a lawsuit for the county. After hearing this, District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt made a motion encouraging the public to wear masks when entering the building. Jones seconded that motion and McKinney agreed to make the vote unanimous. With COVID-19 numbers rising across the county, the Board of Osage County Commissioners have stressed to elected officials that if they feel the need to alter the way in which they conduct business with the public than they are welcome to do so. The Assessor's Office, in ccordination with the Treasurer's Office and County Clerk made that move late Friday afternoon, but things were poorly communicated, as District Three Commissioner Darren McKinney explains.
County Clerk Robin Slack tells the Board why they took action so quickly and says they are in a difficult situation with COVID-19 cases on the rise. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Kane said the Assessor's Office did a poor job in closing their office, as she says there was no plan in place. Assessor Ed Quinton Jr. agreed that there was poor communication in the way in which they went about shutting down their office and they were going to draw up a plan informing the public of what was happening later in the day. |
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