Those attending the Big Cruise and Car Show last weekend in Alva enjoyed the smooth freshly asphalted Flynn Street downtown. In July and August, the city spent $114,000 on asphalt and street materials, according to City Business Manager Joe Don Dunham. Monday night the city council approved claims including $63,000 more for asphalt. Including that expenditure, the city has spent 83 percent of the annual budget for street maintenance. This fiscal year’s budgeted amount is $213,000.
Dunham told the city council that work was substantially complete on Flynn. The street department was finishing up work around Longfellow and Washington Schools. They also hope to complete Seventh Street from Barnes to Choctaw, a two block area. The corner of 13th and Flynn has been prepped and is ready for concrete.
Major street work, especially asphalt, must be completed while the weather is warm. The plant where Alva obtains the hot asphalt will shut down soon, so crews are working to finish as many projects as possible before that happens. Then they’ll tackle less temperature-sensitive projects like striping the street surfaces already completed.
OWRB Loan for Water Project
Now that the council has approved the new utility rate plan, the city is moving forward on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board loan. The loan is needed to complete the first phase of a plan to improve the city’s water infrastructure. It includes the replacement of very old and leaking storage tanks at the Young Street location with a new tank that will hold more than the two being replaced. Also included are some new water lines between that area and the well field as well as a booster pump.
Dunham said he’s been in contact with Allen Brooks of Public Finance Law Group who will work as bond counsel. The loan application should be ready to submit to OWRB soon.
Two new policy documents will need approval by the city council and should be ready for the October meeting. Dunham said these are a customer service policy which allows for hardship cases and a system maintenance policy. While the city already has such policies, they are not written or council approved.
Multi-Year Capital Plan
When a business or individual knows an expensive piece of equipment will need replacing soon or a building will need major renovation, it’s a good idea to start putting aside some money for that project. It’s the same with a public entity such as the City of Alva.
Dunham said the finance committee of the city council is discussing a Multi-Year Capital Replacement Funding Ordinance. This would establish a plan for the General Fund, Airport Fund, Cemetery Fund, Economic Development Fund and Utility Authority to start funding a capital improvement plan beginning with the budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.
City staff will develop a minimum of a five year plan for replacement of equipment and infrastructure. Then money could be transferred or set aside to fund planned purchases five years later. The process would be continued each year to ensure the city has the money to make planned improvements.
Dunham said currently the city operates on a system of “what do we need next year to get by?”
Upper Payment Limit Program
CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has sent a letter to the state Medicaid director explaining the reasons for denial of the supplemental payment application by the state. He said discussions are ongoing between CMS and the state but so far there’s been no decision. The city’s application is on hold. Dunham said he’d be checking again at the end of September.
OML Conference
Dunham and Mayor Kelly Parker attended the recent Oklahoma Municipal League Conference. Dunham said he intends to follow up on how several communities are handling their dilapidated buildings problem. He especially wants to look at Elk City’s ordinances and forward some ideas to Alva’s ordinance committee.
EMS Director Resigns
Dunham noted that he had received a resignation from EMS Director Marty Graham the previous week. The city will be looking for a replacement.
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