The Ponca City Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at 5 pm. Mayor Homer Nicholson called the meeting to order.

The Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which contained items deemed to be non-controversial and routine in nature by the governing body. The approved items included the following: - The minutes of the Ponca City Board of Commissioners work session held on Jan. 17, the regular session held on Jan. 23, and the work session held on Feb. 6.

- A resolution appropriating money for payment of claims against the City of Ponca City.

- A contract award for the purchase of a Toro Reelmaster 5610-D from Professional Turf Products, L.P., in the amount of $100,604.20.

- Authorization to advertise for bids for Street Improvement Project No. SST 23-7, Union Street, Gary Ave. to Liberty Ave. and Prospect Ave., Pecan Road to 1,450 feet east of Pecan Road.

- Authorization to advertise bids for the Alley Improvement Project, Concrete Reconstruction of the alley between Grand Ave. and Central Ave. from Third Street to Fourth Street, Project No. SST-23-3 and Sidewalk Improvement Project, sidewalk replacement, Third Street, west side - Grand Ave. to 100 feet south, Project No. SST23-4.

Mayor Nicholson and Vice-Mayor Paul Taylor participated in the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) and the Mayors Council of Oklahoma (MCO) 12th Annual Congress of Mayors event held at the Reed Center in Midwest City and the Oklahoma State Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 9 and Friday, Feb. 10.

Nicholson and Taylor met, along with approximately 90 other Oklahoma mayors, vicemayors, and council members to debate issues facing municipalities and craft a legislative agenda. The group divided up into committees and discussed topics, such as economic development, infrastructure needs and revenue diversification. Each group would then draft a resolution and presented them to the general session.

City Manager Craig Stephenson then provided his City Manager’s Report.

The community is invited to attend a reception on Monday, Feb. 27 at 5 pm in the City Commission Chambers to honor and thank Commissioners Shasta Scott and Lanita Chapman, as well as welcoming incoming Commissioners-Elect Garret Bowers and Kelsey Wagner. Bowers and Wagner will be sworn in during the Feb. 27 meeting and will begin their terms on Wednesday, March 1.

A Ponca Politics forum will be held on Friday, Feb. 24 at noon in the City Commission Chambers with Senator Bill Coleman, Representative Ken Luttrell and Representative John Pfeiffer.

Cimarron Transit is holding a virtual forum via Zoom on Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 am, and on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1 pm. For more information on how to participate, contact Cimarron Transit at 918-762-3041.

Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) met on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Stephenson along with Mayor Nicholson and Development Services Director Chris Henderson, attended this meeting virtually. The gap in the rail system between Oklahoma City and Newton, Kansas was amongst the topics discussed.

Another meeting will be held in April/May.

Congressman Frank Lucas will be holding a town hall meeting at Standing Bear Museum from 9 am to 10 am on Thursday, Feb. 16.

A work session will be held on Monday, Feb. 20 to discuss a proposed Central Business District Code Compliance Fund, an application to the Housing Incentive Program 2.0, and an executive session to discuss union negotiations.

Following the City Manager’s Report, the Commissioners then looked at new business.

The Commissioners voted to deny an application to Rural Water District #3 for a residential water meter to be placed on a tract of land containing less than five acres. Said property was located at 10 North 40 Road, Kay County. It has been city policy to not promote any high density residential growth outside the corporate limits of the city at the expense of the citizens living within the city limits.

The Commissioners voted to approve Change Order No. 1 and final payment to Hembree & Hodgson Construction, LLC for Street Improvement Project, Walnut Avenue – Third Street to Fourth Street, in the deduct amount of $1,755.00, and the final payment in the amount of $116,476.85. The improvements completed include the removal of the existing deteriorated concrete pavement and construction of new concrete pavement with curbs and gutters. The project also included new concrete sidewalks, wheelchair ramps and driveway approaches. This section of street lies along the southern boundary of the new public safety center and jail site. The street project is complete and Change Order No. 1 reconciles all final quantities for the project. The oneyear maintenance bond period will begin upon approval of the final payment.

The Commissioners then voted to adjourn the City Commission meeting and then entered into the Ponca City Utility Authority (PCUA) meeting.

PCUA trustees approved the PCUA consent agenda which included the minutes of the PCUA regular session on Jan. 23, and a resolution appropriating money for the payment of claims against PCUA.

Under new business, the PCUA trustees approved Change Order No. 1 to the Monte R. Lee and Company Project Management and Inspection Services Contract for the Fiber to the Home Phase 4 and 5 Project for services beyond the original contract construction completion date.

The construction contractor, Trans-Tel Central, LLC has exceeded their estimated construction end date of Dec. 17, 2022 and is now subject to $2,000 per day in liquidated damages. The contract specifies this is per calendar day, which does not exclude weekends, holidays, and/or weather delay days. Monte R. Lee and Company submitted their contract proposal for project management and inspection services based upon the project being completed on time, and must now devote additional resources to the project. They requested this change order to compensate for the additional time and effort required of the project. Monte R. Lee and Company proposed a fixed daily rate of $2,136.41 per day for every construction day they are required to inspect work. The estimated completion date has now been revised to March 1, 2023. This project is funded through the Fiber Optic Network Capital Fund, and the cost of this change order will be offset by the liquidated damages clause in the construction contract with Trans-Tel Central, LLC.