Alva Review-Courier -

Mayor Kelly Parker filled a bunch of positions on city boards and commissions during the Alva City Council meeting Monday night, Oct. 19. Council members present for the meeting were Daniel Winters, Chris Eckhardt, Brandon Sherman, Randy Stelling and Brian Wallis. Absent were Connor Martin, Mary Hamilton and Bo Hannaford.

Council members approved the following appointments and reappointments by the mayor:

• Calleb Mosburg reappointed to the Regional Airport Commission, term ending June 2025

• Tonja Lewis appointed to the Cemetery Board, term ending June 2023

• Jerrad Hada reappointed to the Board of Adjustments, term ending June 2023

• Greg Bowman appointed to the Board of Adjustments, term ending June 2023

• Matt Adair reappointed to the Planning Commission, term ending June 2023

• Linda Joseph reappointed to the Library Board, term ending June 2023

• Connor Martin reappointed to the Tourism Tax Commission, term ending June 2024

• Melinda Barton appointed to the Tourism Tax Commission, term ending June 2024

• Matt Tucker reappointed to the Alva Recreation Complex Board, term ending October 2022

Mayor on OML Board

Mayor Parker reported that he is now officially a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League board representing District 11. He was scheduled for orientation to that position later in the week.

Parker also reported engineers would be at the swimming pool on Wednesday and Thursday to provide a detailed report on the condition of the pool and associated structures.

Manager’s Report

Alva Business Manager Angelica Brady reported she spoke with Mike Hood, representing the city on the Alva Arena Authority. Hood said the trustees have not met recently. The coronavirus pandemic had slowed their efforts toward financing.

The new booster pump installation at 14th and Oklahoma passed inspection and is now in service. This was the last project scheduled with funds from the $1.87 million bond. The city has approximately $455,000 left from the bond, and they are deciding on projects. The city plans to reapply for a CDBG grant for an offset water well. This is in addition to the application for an offset well through a REAP grant.

Derrick Courson accepted the airport manager position so the city is looking for someone to fill the city inspector job. Until someone is hired, Courson and Fire Chief Bryan Miller will handle the inspection duties.

The city had a retirement in the water department so a position is open there. Other openings include a police officer, a CDL driver for sanitation and EMS positions.

Reporting for the finance committee, Sherman said Alva’s cash position continues to improve under Brady’s management along with the efforts of department managers. He said as of Oct. 19 the pooled cash fund balance was $553,000 compared to only $18,400 in January.

Other Council Action

After considering the nuisance properties on the agenda and hearing a presentation on the upcoming 522 EMS District proposition (covered in separate stories), the council approved a recommendation by the Public Safety Committee to decline the request for proposal (RFP) by Pafford Medical Services to outsource EMS services. Only one response was received after the city sent out an RFP with a deadline of Sept. 30. Although the proposal cost less than expected, it would be close to what EMS already costs.

Winters said the proposal would cost roughly $300,000. With the city operating the service, the cost is approximately $350,000. However, Pafford’s rates to those using the service would be about double what the city charges, and Pafford bills for services the city does not bill.

Brady said she talked with a Pafford representative. They were very impressed with Alva’s RFP, designed with input from the EMS department. They recommend the city not cut the level of service required in the proposal if they decide to go out for proposals in the future.

The council approved new rates for the animal pound with a first time recovery of an animal increasing from $10 to $25. Those new rates are covered in a story in the Friday, Oct. 23, Alva Review-Courier.

A resolution amending the budget to add a grant from Share was approved. The grant is paying for an engineer to inspect the swimming pool.

Council members voted to authorize an application for a grant from the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Fund. The project proposed is for drilling an offset water well. The total cost is $139,766.89. REAP grant funding would pay up to $50,000. The city would use part of the remaining 2018 Bond Revenue to complete the project.

Two right of way agreements were approved with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Brady said the two projects are planned for a future date. First ODOT will need funding approved. The projects would start 18 to 24 months after funding. The agreements with the city clear the way to move any city water and sewer lines as needed.

Since Alva has a population of less than 10,000, ODOT will pay for moving the lines, estimated to cost about $350,000. Brady said the city’s cost for some small things will be about $1,200.

One project is west of Alva adding some shoulders to the highway and lowering the hill at the Avard turnoff. The other project is on South US281 from College and Oklahoma intersection to just past the driveway to the Alva Regional Airport.

In the consent agenda, the council approved minutes of the Sept. 21 meeting, claims of $213,209.22 and payroll expenses of $213,763.40.

Authority Meetings

After the council adjourned, the Alva Utility Authority met. The trustees (council members) approved minutes of the last meeting, claims of $10,208.47 and payroll expenses of $52,916.07.

The Alva Economic Development Authority then met, approving minutes of the last meeting, claims of $21,119.36 and payroll expenses of $15,111.78.