Jail contract fee increases for municipal holdings; pool and splash pad set to open for summer

Marlow City Councilman Neal Moore was re-appointed to serve as vice mayor. Tom Wheat and Tandy Banks were re-appointed as Marlow Municipal Authority Trustees for a one-year term. Landon Collins was appointed as Planning and Zoning Commissioner for a three-year term. He replaces Chuck Hill.

City council members renewed lease-purchase agreements with BancFirst for two cars, a 2021 and a 2022 Dodge Charger police unit. City Administrator Jason McPherson said the city has three cars on a three-year payment plan, and the police units are two of those cars due for a lease renewal.

It was also time for the renewal of the jail services contract with the Stephens County Sheriff. The contract includes a $10 increase from $50 per inmate per day to $60, but McPherson said it isn’t often that the city has to have an inmate held for municipal reasons.

Council also approved the collective bargaining agreements between the City and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 200, and also with the Internal Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local Lodge No. 2954 for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The city has had an agreement with the FOP for years, but this is a new agreement to enter with the IAFF. McPherson said the city has a good working relationship with both departments.

The annual public hearing for the City of Marlow’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024, was held during Tuesday’s (May 23) meeting. Resolution 485 was approved setting the budget for FY 2023-‘24.

The public hearing portion was observed in the Marlow Municipal Authority meeting. During the MMA meeting, they approved the Distribution Service Maintenance Agreement with Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority to extend the contract to use OMPA line crew services and increase contract amount from $30,000 to $50,000. McPherson said that the OMPA line crew is the city’s wholesale provider and they are stationed at the south end of Marlow. “What they do for the city is provide heavy poles and an extra truck and they are cheaper than a contractor,” he said. The OMPA crew also works throughout a wide region of southern Oklahoma, extending to Walters and other areas. Marlow schedules to use them only when they are needed.

Modifications to the City of Marlow Council/Trustee Handbook were approved.

In other business, the MMA trustees also approved a purchase of property through the Stephens County Treasurer’s property auction on June 12, as deemed appropriate by the City Administrator.

The council toured the Public Safety Building which houses the police department offices and fire department station. McPherson pointed out the red carpet in the old city administration offices which now are used for police department business. His idea is to include carpet replacement and a secure an inside entry door inside the front lobby for security reasons. Both of those items are on hold until a new police chief is hired, but the intention is to include the upgrades in the proposed budget for the new fiscal year.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

In other business: Seven lifeguards have been hired for the Marlow Swimming Pool’s summer 2023 season. The pool opens at 1 p.m. Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day. Pool hours are 1 – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Aug. 5. The splash pad at Redbud Park opens at 9 a.m. Friday, May 26 and will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through the end of September.

McPherson said work began Monday on the Miller Park Trail. Forms will be constructed for the upcoming concrete pour for a 6-foot concrete walking path. Work is being done by WW Builders of Duncan, which also did the Heritage Trails walking path in Duncan. McPherson said visitors should use caution for the immediate future. He said they shouldn’t cross marked areas and for their own safety, the use of the middle school track is recommended. But, that advice also means to only use the outer lanes of the track and do not block Park Road.