GO Bond 2018

Voters to decide Parks & Recreation package in March 6 election

By Lisa Beeman

City of Bartlesville

The following is the first in a three-part series of informational columns concerning the City of Bartlesville's upcoming General Bond Election on March 6, 2018. The remaining projects and other information will be covered in the next two installments.

In the upcoming March 6 General Obligation Bond Election, the voters will have an opportunity to decide if the City of Bartlesville should make a substantial investment in the City’s Park and Recreation system.

This proposition seeks approval from the voters to allocate $8.26 million to make much-needed repairs and improvements throughout the park and recreation system. Projects included in this proposition are in response to what citizens have said they want and expect from the City's park system: to maintain and improve the facilities that we have and, where appropriate, utilize parks and recreation  facilities to enhance our local economy by attracting visitors to Bartlesville, as well as by encouraging homebuyers, workers, young families and retirees to call Bartlesville home.

The majority of the funds proposed for park and recreational improvements — 78 percent, or $6,483,500 — will be used to maintain, improve or upgrade the City’s existing park and recreation facilities. These projects include:

An additional $1,776,500 is identified for the construction of the Tower Green, an outdoor public space which ties together the Price Tower, Bartlesville Community Center and the Downtown Central Business District. This space, envisioned in both the 2004 Downtown Master Plan and the 2009 Downtown Redevelopment Plan as the heart of the Downtown Arts and Cultural District, will provide Bartlesville with a “town square," found in many downtown areas, which serve as a community gathering space.

The space would include an open green space as well as an outdoor amphitheater, which can be used by the public for a wide variety of community events, concerts, theater, movies, music and art festivals, public markets, weddings, school and church programs and gatherings, and other opportunities for recreational and leisure activities for children and adults of all ages. A committee would be formed to oversee the management, programming and maintenance of the facility, under a partnership between the City of Bartlesville, the Price Tower and the Bartlesville Community Center.

The Park and Recreation Proposition, the first of four questions voters will decide during the upcoming election, includes improvements to most of the City of Bartlesville-owned park and recreation facilities, including Pathfinder Parkway, Johnstone Park, Kiddie Park, Sooner Park, Jo Allyn Lowe Park, Douglass Park, Veterans’ Park, Adams Golf Course, Price Baseball/Softball Complex, Daniels Fields and Lee Lake.

For more information about the City of Bartlesville's General Obligation Bond Election, see GO Bond Election 2018 FAQ, GoBond2018.com or GO Bond Election Presentation .

Lisa Beeman is the Community Development director for the City of Bartlesville.

Downtown landscape work to start March 15

Contracts have been executed for the Downtown Landscaping Project on Second Street and Dewey Avenue, Director of Engineering Micah Siemers said Tuesday. The project calls for removing current landscaping and upgrading sidewalks along Second Street between Keeler and Osage and along Dewey between Second Street and Fourth Street, as well as constructing tree grates and pavers for approximately 46 trees.

"Engineering staff had a pre-construction meeting this week with the contractor and their sub-contractors," Siemers said. "Jeff Graham Construction will be on-site to begin construction activities on March 15."

In the meantime, Siemers said, work will begin in preparation for the actual construction.

"The contractor is putting together their material submittals and sending them to Engineering staff for approval," he said. "Upon approval they will order materials such as brick pavers, tree grates and irrigation pipe and fittings. The cast iron tree grates and brick pavers each have a three to four week lead time, so the official start date of March 15 will give them time to get everything ready to go to minimize disruption to the downtown businesses."

Siemers said City staff will meet with the contractor on-site in the next couple of weeks to verify some of the items of work "to ensure they have a clear understanding of site conditions."

The contractor has been provided 75 working days to complete the project. Working days exclude weekends, City holidays, and any inclement weather days incurred through the duration of the project.

The project is expected to cost approximately $435,067, which is under the budgeted amount of $574,851.

Business owners will be notified in advance of work activities that will affect their specific location, Siemers said.

The City Council will likely consider the proposed bid award for the project during a meeting this month.

City offices closed Monday due to holiday; trash routes collected on Wednesday

Most City of Bartlesville offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 19, for President’s Day. Monday trash routes will be serviced on Wednesday, Feb. 21, next week due to the holiday.

"Monday customers will need to put their trash out no later than 6 a.m. on Wednesday for their trash to be collected next week," said Public Works Director Keith Henry.

Police and fire services will continue as normally scheduled, with no interruptions. City offices will re-open as normally scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Hensley Boulevard closure to facilitate CMT-City project

Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 20, Hensley Boulevard will be closed from Tuxedo Boulevard to Wyandotte Avenue to facilitate a joint project between the City of Bartlesville and Children's Musical Theater, located at 101 S. Wyandotte.

Street Department crews will extend Wyandotte from Hensley to Tuxedo in a project coordinated with CMT to expand the theater's parking lot. The project is a cooperative effort in which City crews will construct the roadway and funding will be provided by CMT.

This portion of Wyandotte and Hensley will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project. The project is estimated to be complete by the end of April, pending weather conditions.

Grand Gateway survey open through March

Do you have transportation safety concerns or needs in Washington County? The Grand Gateway Regional Transportation Planning Organization is developing a Long Range Transportation Plan for Washington County and is looking for citizen input to help determine spending and future needs.

Completing the survey helps Grand Gateway gather ideas from residents on how to improve the transportation infrastructure in Washington County and other counties. Surveys are available at local libraries, town halls and senior centers. The survey is also available on Grand Gateway's website, www.grandgateway.org .

Public input is being sought through March 30.

OKM USO-themed party set for March 3

The 1940s USO-themed dance is back, bringing with it authentic food and fashion during OKM Music Goes USO. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. March 3 at Father Lynch Hall Event Center, Eighth Street and Keeler Avenue, in Bartlesville.

“Step back in time and join us for a wonderful evening of big band sounds, swing dancing and honoring our military,” said Mary Lynn Mihm, board chairwoman of OKM Music. “ Proceeds from this event will

help support the 34th OKM Music Festival in June, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to USO

Oklahoma to salute and support our military.” 

Tickets are $30 each for general admission and $25 each for active and retired military service members. Five dollars of each ticket goes to USO Oklahoma. Make reservations through Feb. 27 at okmmusic.org , under the Tickets menu.

Dress in 1940s style and boogie to the big band sounds of Floyd Haynes and his Orchestra, featuring vocalist Jae Simmons. Retired and active military men and women are encouraged to wear their uniforms. Be ready for the costume and dance contests!

Information submitted by OKM Music.

AEP/PSO programs show success in 2017

The numbers are in for AEP/PSO's programs for 2017, showing several Bartlesville residents and businesses have taken advantage of the company's cost-saving resources.

Home Weatherization

This program provides free energy-saving upgrades to homeowners or renters with a household income of less than $45,000. Records show that 123 Bartlesville homes were completed in 2017, resulting in $179,088 in installed measures such as insulation, weather-stripping and caulking.

Home Rebates

Home rebates are available to residential customers who make energy-saving improvements to their homes through participating service providers. According to PSO, 129 Bartlesville homes completed a single project while 65 Bartlesville homes completed three or more projects, resulting in $136,800 in rebates.

In-store Discouts

In-store discounts are available on select LED light bulbs and Energy Star appliances at participating retailers. Local retailers in Bartlesville sold 34,592 discounted light bulbs.

Energy Saving Kits

These kits are available to fifth grade students upon teacher request and to residential customers through mailers or online request. PSO distributed 328 education kits to Bartlesville Public School teachers, along with 1,148 residential energy savings kits and 247 small business energy savings kits.

Small Business Rebates

Rebates are available to businesses with usage of less than 220,000 kWh/year. PSO rebates cover up to 70 percent of project cost through third party service providers. There were four projects completed by Bartlesville “small businesses,” resulting in $1,606 in rebates.

Commercial and Industrial Rebates

Rebates are also available to commercial and industrial customers that implement energy-saving improvements to their business. There were 39 projects completed involving Bartlesville businesses, resulting in $118,744 in rebates.

Peak Performers

This program pays cash incentives to business customers that volunteer to reduce their usage during times of high peak demand between June and September. There were 69 locations participating in the program, resulting in $52,876 in incentives for 2017.

For more information, visit  www.psooklahoma.com.

Information submitted by PSO.

Positions available on Boards, Committees & Commissions

The City of Bartlesville has numerous boards, committees and commissions that are driven by citizen volunteers. All citizens are encouraged and welcome to apply.

Board applications are located online and in the city manager’s office, located on the second floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. Applications are kept on file for two years. To view a complete list, see Boards, Committees & Commissions .

The City currently has the following openings:

For more information, visit the City's website, www.cityofbartlesville.org.

Human Resources Department

The City of Bartlesville is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Maintenance Worker I/II - Wastewater Maintenance

For an application or more information, visit the City's  website or the   Human Resources Department   , located on the second floor at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. 

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Kelli Williams, Editor

401 S. Johnstone Ave.

Bartlesville, OK 74003

918-338-4132