Alva Review-Courier -

Dr. Callie Mosburg was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Alva Hospital Authority during the Alva City Council meeting Monday. Her term will expire in October 2024. Previously Jay Randels held the trustee position, but he resigned before his term ended.

During meeting reports, City Business Manager Stephen Ford said 700 of the 2900 water meters had been installed. The installers from Core and Main are averaging about 20 meters per installer per day. They hope to have all the new remote-reading water meters in place by Nov. 1.

Hydrogen Plant

Phillip Sutter spoke to the council about putting in a hydrogen plant in or near Alva. He said the “green” project would fit well at the Avard Regional Rail Park. Sutter described IRS forms needed for the project and said he met with someone from the state treasurer’s office as well as a bank. Sutter said he has to have a government entity like a city or county as a sponsor for the project to be approved, but that sponsor has no financial involvement.

Joe Parsons pointed out the Avard Regional Rail Park is not in the city limits and asked what tied the project to Alva. Sutter said the bonds for funding the project are for cities.

The item on the agenda did not include any action. Mayor Kelly Parker told Sutter that he and the city attorney will look over the information.

Airport Action

Alva Regional Airport Manager Derrick Courson was in the audience to answer questions about two items on the council agenda. The two airport fuel trucks are very old, said the mayor. He asked Courson how many were currently running, and Courson said one.

The airport commission earlier approved the purchase of two Isuzu trucks, cab and chassis. The fuel tanks mounted on the old trucks would be removed and placed on the new ones. The council was presented information about the two vehicles for a total cost of $113,620, which is lower than the amount approved by the airport commission. The airport has the money available for the purchase.

Parsons asked if local dealers had been consulted and was told vehicles they had were approximately $50,000 higher. Daniel Winters made a motion, seconded by Sadie Bier, to purchase the two trucks. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The airport also had 50 old lighting fixtures and 50 old light globes they can no longer use. The council approved declaring these items as surplus. The airport at Hooker has expressed interest in obtaining the fixtures and globes.

New City Position

Following a closed executive session, the city council took no action on a class action litigation presentation.

On the city personnel matter, the council voted to create a new position of assistant public works director at grade 12 level.

Other Business

The council approved a budget amendment to account for a forestry grant received by the fire department and a $5,000 grant to the library. In another action, they also amended the airport budget to account for the purchase of the new fuel trucks.

The updated employee handbook which had been tabled last month was approved.

The Alva Utility Authority approved a contract with Myers Engineering for the 2023 FAP Water System Improvements at a cost of $438,262. This contract is for the water projects submitted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for inclusion in a bond offering. The city received word later in the week that Alva will receive $5.835 million from the OWRB for these water improvements. The loan is secured with a lien on revenues from the Alva water, sewer and sanitation systems.