The Pawhuska City Council got a clean audit report at Tuesday evening's city council meeting. Gabrielle Conchola with CBEW highlighted to the council members what her agency found when doing the report.
Because the city spent less than $750,000 on federal money, CBEW didn't have to conduct a separate audit on the city. A Pawhuska family lost everything they had in a house fire Sunday evening and the Pawhuska community is coming together to help begin the rebuilding process.
One of the young men involved is a freshman on the Husky football team. When coach Matt Hennesy, and other Pawhuska School Administrators, heard what had happened they quickly reached out to see how they could help. Hennesy says to go to the Huskies Football Booster Club Facebook Page to see what the family needs. You may also make donations at the high school. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you that beginning Friday, December 13th law enforcement across Oklahoma, and across the nation, will be on high alert looking for drunk drivers through Wednesday, January 1st.
A press release states that there is never an excuse to drive drunk. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you leave for the evening. Know what other options you have to get home safely for the night, rather that be calling a cab, family member or a ride-share service such as Uber. In 2018, 375 people were killed in alcohol and or drug related crashes across the state. At Tuesday evening's city council meeting in Pawhuska, there was much discussion about how the Board of Directors of the Constantine Arts Council has been conducting its business. Jesse Worten was at the meeting and he had submitted an open records request to get some information, but he has yet to hear back from them.
He went on to say that they will charge people different prices for the same event and it is sad seeing the Theater go down like it has. The Pawhuska City Council will arrange a special meeting with the Constantine Arts Council. At Tuesday evening's city council meeting in Pawhuska, Mark Buchanan made a proclamation honoring the late Robert Wilson, a gentleman who served as Pawhuska's City Attorney for 36 years. Buchanan read the following statement:
This is an award that the city manager will present to an employee each December who shows dedication, service and integrity to the city of Pawhuska that is above and beyond what is expected of him or her. Pawhuska City Manager Dave Neely sent a letter to Police Chief Nick Silva that effective January 1st, all police vehicles will be left at the station for those who live outside of Pawhuska city limits. Silva saidthis will affect the department in a negative manner.
Silva says the reason so many of his officers live out of town is so that they can attract better candidates. As a result of that, Neely says each car gets an extra 15,000 miles put on it each year and costs between $30,000 and $50,000 in extra fuel, tires and mechanical repairs. After hearing that the City is doing well financially, Silva doesn’t understand why Neely would want to change something that isn’t broken. Silva says Neely has not spoken to him about the issue. Silva added that since 2013, at least 26 certified officers have come through the Pawhuska Police Department and left. This doesn’t count the 10 officers currently on the force. Neely was unavailable for comment at the time. The Pawhuska City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall Tuesday evening and got a number of things accomplished.
Gabrielle Conchola with CBEW presented the council with its yearly audit. She let the council know that it was a clean audit and there were no issues found. There were 18 sets of used bunker gear that will be surplused. That gear will be offered to the City of Avant. There was a gentleman at the meeting who was concerned about the way the Board of Directors of the Constantine Arts Council Trust Authority are running their meetings. The council agreed to contact the Board to confront them on the issues he raised. Mark Buchanan proclaimed that the city award a, “Robert Wilson Employee of the Year Award,” to a city employee in December. Bonuses for the month were also approved. Full-time employees will get an additional $250 then they have in years past. City Manager Dave Neely said street crews are working to patch potholes, the electric company will soon start trimming trees and water leaks are also being fixed. The Board of Osage County Commissioners heard from Blane Wood of OPEH&W Health at Monday's meeting. Wood is hoping his insurance company is one that Osage County would be willing to use in the future.
The county offers many different health plans to its employees. Wood was just hoping the commissioners would consider adding his agency to that list of different options. Wood says starting in July, they will be offering something unique that others can't. Wood said his agency covers many other counties, municipalities and school systems across the state. The Pawhuska Husky basketball team went 13-10 a year ago. It was a year that coach Jake Christenson admits was a roller coaster ride, as they got off to a slow start, but rebounded to win nine straight before losing in districts. Christenson knows there is room for improvement as virtually everybody returns from that 2018 squad.
Pawhuska's football season ended a week ago. Therefore, key players such as Easton Kirk, Tre Harper, Mason Gilkey and Evan Frye have only been in the gym for a week. Christenson knows it will take those guys a while to get in basketball shape, but he is glad they were there for summer workouts. Christenson liked to get up and down the floor as quickly as possible last year. He wants even more of that this year. The Huskies got a 47-39 victory over Newkirk on Tuesday. The Pawhuska City Council will meet Monday evening at City Hall for a regularly scheduled meeting.
Gabrielle Conchola will present an annual financial audit to the city council. Raymond Redcorn will address the city regarding real property. The council will then go into executive session and decide if they want to purchase and or appraise the real property. The city council will consider removing or appointing members of the Board of Directors of the Constantine Arts Council Trust Authority. They will also consider accepting or rejecting the bid for the Kihekah waterline replacement. The city council will look to proclaim a, “Robert Wilson Employee of the Year Award,” at the meeting. Executive Director for the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce, Joni Nash, will also give an update on how things are going across the county. The meeting begins at 5:30 in the evening for those interested in attending. |
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