Commissioners Talk Asbestos Testing and Aquifer Study at Monday’s Meeting
Commissioner Hogrefe holding a map of Cushing Lake.
(Cushing, Okla.) In a meeting held prior to the regular monthly session of the Cushing Board of Commissioners, commissioners decided the next step in regard to Fountaine Bleau Apartments and went on to discuss Cushing Lake.
Last week, a special meeting was called to discuss the possible sale of the apartments, with representatives from National Commercial Auctioneers and local businessman Benny Vassar speaking to the council about options they could offer.
However, discussion at Monday night’s meeting gave indication the council is leaning toward demolition of the apartments due to their age, possible asbestos and the viability of a purchaser being able to transform the 40 plus year old apartments into something other than low income housing.
“I don’t want low income housing,” Commissioner Joe Manning said. “It is my opinion we have enough of that. These apartments are 40 years old. It would be cheaper to just build them from scratch.”
After considerable discussion, Commissioner Carey Seigle made a motion for a demolition inspection for asbestos be made. Commissioner Jim Hogrefe suggested more inclusive testing that could also be used for disclosure should the Commission decide to allow the property be sold, but backed down after Manning pointed out additional testing could always be called for at a later date.
Next, the board tackled the topic of Cushing Lake. City Manager Steve Spears gave commissioners background information about the lake, as well as information from a 1994 study regarding its use as a primary water supply.
Commissioner Seigle approached the lake from a different angle, saying he would like to form a citizen’s group to try to “think outside the box.”
“I think we need to look at it as a resource,” Seigle said.
Manning suggested before forming a group, Spears should look into having someone – perhaps a geologist – report on its aquifer. “We need to be able to provide them [citizen's group] some good basic information first,” Manning said. “And to me, the condition of the aquifer is important.”
Commissioners agreed unanimously to have the City Manager look for experts who can provide that information and to come back to the Commission with a proposal.
The regular meeting of the board began with Mayor Rossiter thanking all the city staff for their service. “These men and women do a great job,” Rossiter said. “I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.”
General business included the approval of an election of candidates to the office of seat number 1 and number 2 of the commission. Those seats are currently held by Joe Manning and Evert Rossiter, respectively.
“This is just business as usual,” Spears said. “We need to get the dates reserved.”
All other agenda items (see prior story below: ‘Board of Commissioners regular meeting Monday, Dec. 19th at 7 p.m.) were approved, with only one ‘No’ vote expressed by Hogrefe regarding a resolution to amend the budget to accomodate $5,000 in grant money to the Cushing Police Department. After the meeting Hogrefe made a beeline to Chief Terry Brannon to speak to him about his vote. Hogrefe told KUSH he was “just gigging the Chief a little” and went on to say, “I like to cast a ‘no’ vote once in a while. Once a year I usually vote no to adjourning,” he laughed. “I knew the item would pass.”
In remarks by commissioners, Manning and Rossiter congratulated fellow commissioner Tommy Johnson and his wife Ruth Ann for being selected as parade marshals for the Cushing Christmas parade. They teased that the “parade had been held up 10 minutes” while their list of accomplishments were read.
“We are really proud of them,” Rossiter said.
In the City Manager’s report, Spears said dumpsters should be in place by Friday, Dec. 23 for the community to use for overflow Christmas refuse. Residents are urged not to leave items on the side of the dumpsters, but to wait until they have been emptied.
Spears also gave an update on the construction of the new safety center. “You should be seeing interior walls going up soon,” he said.
He also reminded citizens that City Hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 23rd and Monday, Dec. 26th. “On behalf of city employees, I want to thank the commission for giving us these days off,” Spears concluded. “And we wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”
The regular meeting of the Cushing Board of Commissioners is the third Monday of each month. The public is welcome to attend.
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Article source: http://www.1600kush.com/story.php?id=4759§ion=1