The Weatherford City Commission met Friday morning in Blair Hall where they discussed the summer schedule for the swimming pool and splash pad.
Due to COVID-19, Mayor Mike Brown said it is likely the pool and splash pad will not open at all this summer. The commission approved a contract between the City of Weatherford and the Great Plains Family YMCA to allow the YMCA to manage the pool and splash pad for the summer, as per usual.
Mayor Brown said the city loses about $50,000 every year to costs associated with the swimming pool. “It’s not a money-maker,” he said.
The pool and splash pad will remain closed until further notice.
In other news, 14 properties were brought before the commission to consider abatement due to unkempt lawns. However, 11 of the 14 properties “took care of business” before Friday’s meeting. The city will abate the remaining three properties — 404 N. 5th Street, 209 N.W. Main Street and 415 N. Washington Street.
The commission approved two recommendations by the Hotel/Motel Tax Committee. The committee approved a request in the amount of $1,500 to the YMCA for its Weatherford Triathlon and $2,000 to Harley’s House Crisis Nursery for the couple’s golf tournament it is sponsoring in partnership with Prairie West Golf Course. The triathlon will be July 11 and the golf tournament will be June 27-28.
City Clerk Ashley VanDeburgh, along with Cheryl Burleigh from the Pioneer Center, have collaborated together in recent weeks to compile a records retention manual for the city. VanDeburgh said this has needed to be done for years, but it is a very time-consuming process. Due to the slowdown spurred by COVID-19, they were able to compile the manual.
The manual is 51 pages long and outlines the amount of time each and every record the City of Weatherford collects is supposed to be kept. The manual follows the minimum state statutes for record retention, and every city department will be given a copy.
Ward 3 Commissioner Warren Goldmann suggested they also add a record retention policy for employee handbooks and union contracts. “This way we can always look back and see trends,” he said.
Commissioners approved an additional $147,213.13 for Phase 3 of the Exit 82 project, which will create access to the Heartland Museum and other businesses along Frontage Road. When this project began, the city agreed to pay 20 percent of the project price, with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation paying the remainder. Mayor Brown said this has turned out to be an expensive exit project, but he is grateful the city only has to pay 20 percent for the improvement.
The commission approved change order No. 11 for the Jim Cobb Drive, Logan Road and parking improvements project near the Stafford Air and Space Museum. The entire cost of the project is split 50/50 between the city and the foundation. The contract has been increased by $4,070.
Human Resources Director and Safety Coordinator Lisa Young was nominated by the commission as a District 7 candidate to serve on the Oklahoma Municipal Retirment Fund Board of Trustees. This position holds a 5-year term.
The commission approved the consent agenda for the public works authority before voting to enter into executive session. The executive session was called to discuss the purchase or appraisal of a real estate contract. No action was taken as a result of the executive session before the commission adjourned.