Alva Review-Courier -

A food vendor ordinance tabled by the council in November was revisited on Monday. City Business Manager Stephen Ford said the ordinance was the same as the one in November except that permit fees had been changed to a flat $25 per year. He said the main purpose of the ordinance is to make sure vendors have health department certificates and sales tax permit numbers. The city will use the sales tax permit numbers to check with the Oklahoma Tax Commission that those selling food and other products in Alva turn in the sales tax for Alva, not for the vendor’s home location.

Daniel Winters said he was “not a huge fan” of the restriction that vendors could not set up within 300 feet of any business selling the same product. Several other councilmembers voiced agreement.

Troy Brooks said he would prefer a guest registry only and a repeal of current law.

Sadie Bier made a motion to approve the ordinance, striking the geographic restrictions, with Greg Bowman seconding. The motion carried with Brooks and Joe Parsons voting no.

Finance Committee

As chairman of the Finance Committee, Daniel Winters reported to the Alva City Council Monday that total cash balances at the end of November are $3,303,967.21. The city has a pooled cash balance of $2,335,889.43 with pooled cash in AEDA ball field funds of $100,200 and a savings account of $189,379.43. The pool donation account totaled $382,325.61 while the ARPA cash account was $2,654.17. The 522 checking account (EMS 522 district) had $2,528.99, and the airport checking account was $293,889.58.

At the close of November, the city had collected 38.21 percent of budgeted revenue and expended 39.03 percent of budgeted expenses. Both figures are under what could be expected. With five of 12 months past, the expected percentage would be 41.6 percent.

Sales and use tax for November totaled $444,999.63, up 12.57 percent from November 2022 and up 0.93 percent from October 2023. Sales and use tax are at 42.10 percent of the budget for the year which is slightly above the projected amount for five months.

Consent Agenda

Councilmembers approved the consent agenda which included claims of $457,545.91 and payroll expenses of $382,442.05 as well as acknowledging the receipt of a DEQ permit for the water main replacement on Locust Street and an ASAP Energy invoice of $27,135,80 for aviation fuel at the airport.

Survival Flight Presentation

Whitney Kemp and Ryan Sand spoke to the city council about Survival Flight, Inc. Based in Batesville, Arkansas, the medical flight service is newly affiliated with Share Medical Center in Alva. A helicopter will sit on the helipad at the hospital ready to transport patients who need a higher level of care than is offered locally.

Survival Flight has been in business around 10 years and has 24 sites in the United States with five of them, including Alva, in Oklahoma. With the helicopter, equipment and supplies, Sand estimated the company has spent around $4 million to get set up in Alva.

Memberships in other medical flight services do not cover Survival Flight transportation. Kemp handed out brochures and business cards to council members showing that individual plans are $60 per year while households are $70. The household plan covers everyone living in the household.

Those wanting further information will find it at http://www.survivalflightinc.com or by calling 800-793-0998.

Other Business

The council approved a resolution to approve the interlocal agreement with Circuit Engineering District 8 for the 2024 calendar year. With this agreement, CED#8 will provide the city with signage at lower cost.

An airport budget amendment was approved to account for an FAA grant to fix the PAPI (precision approach path indicator) lights.

An addition to the employee handbook was approved. Ford said he realized the handbook did not include an FMLA family leave policy. With council approval, this was added to the handbook.

Parsons asked about an agenda item to declare a police vehicle as surplus and sell it. He asked if bids would be taken. Ford said no. Typically, the availability of the vehicle will be posted on state police boards so smaller communities will have chance to get equipment at lower than new cost. The council approved declaring the 2007 Chevy Tahoe with the city business manager or mayor authorized to sign paperwork for the sale. The motion passed with a 7-1 vote as Brooks voted no.

The police department also asked that 16 body cameras and 16 base units be declared surplus and sold. This was approved unanimously.

An amendment to the Parkhill engineering agreement for the airport was approved. The agreement change is to add a self-serve jet fuel system at the airport using a state aeronautics grant.

In council comments, Bowman asked about progress on the senior citizens building. Ford said City Attorney Drew Cunningham and the DA are working on an agreement to give the senior citizens the property.

Parsons asked if the city has been able to collect rent never received at the Professional Building. Ford said the city is sending invoices. Parsons commented that both sides seemed to be disorganized.

Authority Meetings

In the Alva Utility Authority (AUA) meeting, trustees approved the consent agenda including claims of $281,262.68 and payroll expenses of $99,877.34. Trustees also approved a change order request on the OWRB water line project south of Alva. Some valves were not needed and were returned resulting in lowering the project cost by $14,179.

In the Alva Economic Development Authority (AEDA) meeting, trustees approved the consent agenda including claims of $35,371.01 and payroll expenses of $29,184.79.

Reports on the NWOSU scholarship payment and the Hatfield Park Aquatics Center bid during the AEDA meeting are covered in other stories.

See the entire Alva City Council meeting as well as the AUA and AEDA meetings at http://www.AlvaReviewCourier.com.