Permits issued for Bison Trails apartments

Phase 1 of development to see construction of 158 units

The City of Bartlesville Building & Permit Office recently issued permits for Phase 1 construction of the Bison Trails Apartment Development, Community Development Director Lisa Beeman said late last week. Ground breaking on the project took place on Oct. 27.

The development, which was recently approved as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 9, will be located near the northwest corner of Nowata Road and Bison Road.

"The development includes the construction of a high-quality, market rate multi-family residential complex of 158 dwelling units in 16 buildings, plus a community building/clubhouse and pool," Beeman said. "It's estimated at approximately $13.8 million in new private investment."

Beeman said the development fees received by the City of Bartlesville for Phase I construction was almost $80,000.

"The City has to date received $79,916.45 in fees from Phase 1 of this project," she said.

 

A future Phase 2 will involve the construction of an additional 134 dwelling units in 15 buildings — estimated at $11.5 million in private investment — for a total of 292 dwelling units.

"The project is estimated at approximately $25.3 million in new taxable investment," Beeman said.

According to Community Development records, 44 percent, or 139 units, of the total will be one bedroom units, while 55 percent, or 162 units, will be two bedroom units.

 

As TIF District No. 9, the development receives public financing in an amount up to $2,103,800 for the installation of public infrastructure improvements that are required to serve the development. Those improvements include:

 

Public financing to accommodate Phase 1 construction is estimated at $1,118,500. The remaining $985,300 will be provided with the construction of Phase 2 construction.

ODOT bridge project on US 75 at Eastland Parkway still ongoing

We’ve been wondering how much longer we have to put up with the orange barrels/cones and road construction signs along Highway 75 between Mazzios and the east side Post Office turn-off? It is our understanding that ODOT was responsible for the original construction and that they hired a contractor to put up the signage and put out the cones. The local drivers know that the signs are meaningless, since the project was finished several weeks ago, and most pay no attention to the signage.

Actually, work is ongoing on this project, so the signs, barrels and cones are still needed. As most of us know, this is an Oklahoma Department of Transportation project that started in February and involved the rehabilitation of the Turkey Creek Bridge, located on U.S. Highway 75 near Adams Road. Lanes on the highway between Eastland Parkway and Adams Road were closed for some time to facilitate the project.

According to City Department of Engineering Micah Siemers, the contractor for ODOT still has work to do in the area, including extending the delineators (the plastic markers that will prevent vehicles from Adams Road accessing the ramp) further south and repairing the guardrail that was damaged at the entrance to Senior Salsa.

The barrels and cones remain on the roadway because they will be needed during the upcoming portion of the project.

ODOT expects the project will be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks.

School zone light to make comeback

Why is there a flashing school zone speed limit sign for the west-bound lanes of Frank Phillips Boulevard just east of the Will Rogers Complex, but no corresponding school zone for east bound traffic in the same location?

The flashing school zone sign for east-bound traffic near the building known as the "Will Rogers Complex" on Frank Phillips Boulevard was struck by a vehicle some time ago and became inoperable. There was some debate regarding whether to replace it or not, as the building, which was once an elementary school within the Bartlesville Public School District, was at the time being used for administrative services for BPSD.

The building is currently being used as a privately-owned education facility,and plans are to repair and replace the east-bound flashing school zone sign. According to Public Works Director Keith Henry, the sign should be installed within the next month or so.

Office space

What is going into the building (at 800 S.E. Frank Phillips Blvd.)?

According to the Building & Permit Office, the building at 800 S.E. Frank Phillips Blvd. will house four offices. Approval was recently given to re-configure the parking lot at the site — work that is underway now.

Locke Supply moving north

I was wondering what is being built next to the Aaron's building on Highway 75.

According to the Community Development Department, the construction underway on north U.S. Highway 75 between Aaron’s Rental store and the Phillips 66 station is a new Locke Supply store. The existing store, located further south on U.S. 75, is relocating to the north U.S. 75 site. ( See City Beat Archives . )

No plans for Target (or others)

Wondering if there is anything to the report that Target will be moving into the KMart building?

Bonus questions: Are we getting a Logan's Steak House? Are we getting an REI? Are we getting a Panera Bread?

The City of Bartlesville has not received inquiries or plans associated with the construction of a Target store anywhere in Bartlesville, including the KMart site. Same goes for Logan's Steak House. And REI. And Panera Bread.

Free leaf collection week November 13-17

The City of Bartlesville’s free leaf Collection for Bartlesville residents will be held Nov. 13-17, Public Works Director Keith Henry said recently.

Residents should place their leaves at the curb in bags on their normal collection day. During this week only, leaf bags will not require yard waste stickers. Residents may use clear or colored bags.

“This collection is for private residences only. There will be no commercial collections,” Henry said.

The collection is only for leaves and grass, Henry said. There is no limit on the number of bags a resident can put out for collection. Extra bags or items of household refuse outside the cart must have the Red Refuse sticker attached.

“Residents should comply with all other standard refuse regulations,” he said.

Leaves and grass will be collected only once during the week of Nov. 13-17 — on the resident’s normal collection day.

The free leaf/grass collection will be offered again the week of Dec. 18-22. For more information, call 918-338-4130. 

BAHM Movie Monday honors veterans with ‘Journey to Honor’

In recognition of the nation’s veterans, the Bartlesville Area History Museum will offer a showing of the documentary film “Journey to Honor — A Salute to America’s World War II Heroes” from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13. The film characterizes the sacrifice of Oklahoma residents who served in all branches of the service during World War II.

The 38-minute production is about a need in Oklahoma, recognized by a dedicated group of volunteers who wanted WWII veterans to see their memorial, according to BAHM Coordinator Jo Crabtree.

“Oklahoma Honor Flights executed detailed planning, while generous donors provided the necessary funding toward this important effort to pay for the flights to honor the remaining World War II generation of Oklahomans, who are quickly diminishing,” Crabtree said. “Without OHF and donations, most of those veterans would have never realized the reward and opportunity to visit their WWII memorial in Washington, D.C.”

The satisfaction of 24 flights achieved and 2,055 Oklahoman veterans taking part in this opportunity to visit their war memorial brought OHF into the final phase of preservation to preserve the story of how Oklahoma responded to the need and responsibility of the state to honor this generation of World War II veterans.

“A very personal and emotional journey for several of those veterans is told by the men themselves, who lived this history and went back to their own lives, never the same,” Crabtree said. “The humility they exhibit is an example to all generations that follow, for love of God and Country.

Keith McPhail of Bartlesville Monthly Magazine will emcee the event.

The Bartlesville Area History Museum is a family friendly facility on the fifth floor of City Hall, located at 401 S. Johnstone, where admission is free and donations are always welcome. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 918-338-4294.

Students invited to ConocoPhillips-sponsored ‘Math and Science Night’

 

The Second Annual “Hands On, Minds On Bartlesville Math and Science Night” event is scheduled to take place on Monday, Nov. 6.

 

Set to unfold from 6-8:30 p.m. in the commons area on the Madison Middle School campus, the free event is open to all area middle school students. No sign-ups are necessary.

 

Sponsored and facilitated by ConocoPhillips and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB), the Oklahoma State University chapter of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology, the event aims to help area youngsters from grades six through eight learn more about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields as well as career options in the energy industry.

 

This event supports ConocoPhillips’ global commitment to help students excel in math, graduate high school and succeed in college.

 

While the inaugural event proved to be very popular, this year’s “Hands On, Minds On” event promises to be bigger and better. The special “Math and Science Night” offers interactive fun as students explore several activity stations focused on various subjects, such as coding, seismic activity, acid tests, stream tables and rock samples. But this year’s event will offer even more activity stations than its predecessor and more space will be available in which interested youngsters can gather and explore.

 

As was the case last year, math- and engineering-themed games will be available, with prizes awarded at the end of the night. Complimentary pizza and beverages will be provided as well. Volunteers from ConocoPhillips, OSU’s AAPG chapter and the Oklahoma Energy Resource Board will be on hand to help run the stations, guide students and offer insight.

 

Last year, more than 400 students attended the “Hands On, Minds On Bartlesville Math and Science Night.” More are expected to be on hand for this year’s event.

 

Story courtesy of David Austin.

Human Resources Department

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

Water Plant Operator

Maintenance Worker I/II

Museum Assistant Archivist

Sanitation Collector II

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. 

Want City Beat delivered to your inbox each week? Sign up !

Do you have questions you would like to see answered or addressed in City Beat? Let us know! Email [email protected], attn. City Beat.