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Projects update
From pickleball courts to bridge rehabs:
Progress ongoing for voter-approved City projects
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Most City projects are in some stage of development at any given time. Beginning at the design phase though contract approval to actual construction, these projects are never far from mind for City staff, even if sometimes out of view to most citizens. To help remedy this, Engineering Director Micah Siemers gives us a project update in today's City Beat. | |
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Pickleball Courts
Work continues on the voter-approved pickle ball court project in Sooner Park, with initial pavement of the courts complete and perimeter fencing installed.
Siemers said lighting for the project has been added to the base project and is in the process of being installed.
"The base bid for the project includes construction of the six courts, seating and fencing around the perimeter. Alternate bid items, which are not required but lock in costs in the event that funding is available, include lighting the courts as well as the addition of shade structures," Siemers said. "The City Council approved additional funding for the lighting during a recent meeting, and some private donation funds are expected to help off-set those costs. So we will be able to light the courts to allow for evening play during the winter months."
The courts are located south of the No. 3 Fire Station, adjacent to the Sooner Park tennis courts. Voters approved $459,000 for the project in the 2020 General Obligation Bond Election. Construction is expected to wrap up in the next month or two.
"We hope to have the courts ready for play by late May or early June," Siemers said.
Veterans Park Memorial
The Veterans Park Memorial project got underway recently, which consists of the installation of seven flag poles with landscaping, a reflection bench, some signage and sidewalk to access the improvements at the City-owned Veterans Park, located at 312 S.W. Virginia Ave.
"We are in the process of installing the electrical to provide lighting for the flags," Siemers said. "Concrete has been poured and the sleeves for the flag poles have been installed. Flag poles were delivered to the contractor’s facilities yesterday and the landscaping subcontractor was supposed to receive the landscaping blocks yesterday as well. Weather doesn’t appear to be very good this week, but they will make progress on what they can this week with the landscaping components and flag pole installation likely starting up next week."
The target date for completion is Memorial Day weekend, though some aspects of the project could take longer, Siemers said.
"We are certainly hoping to have it finished by Memorial Day, but it could be the Fourth of July, at the very latest," he said.
Funds for the majority of the project were provided by a local corporate donor, which will be announced at a later date. Unallocated sales tax funds will be used to cover the remaining contract.
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Pathfinder trail improvements
Nearly $800,000 is available in carry-over funds for various portions of Pathfinder Parkway, a series of paved trails that wind through city neighborhoods and connect the city's major parks.
"We anticipate asking the City Council to approve a bid award for work on several sections of Pathfinder at the June 3 council meeting," Siemers said.
He said the areas slated for improvements are:
- Near Silver Lake Road and Polaris Drive
- Robinwood Park, through the bird sanctuary
- Washed-out area (aka the frog pond) southeast of Shawnee Avenue behind Bartlesville High School
- Near Adams Boulevard and Quapaw Avenue
- Between Johnstone Park and Tuxedo Bridge at Caney River
- Path around Douglass Park, located at 509 S.W. Bucy Avenue
Parking lots, access roads at major parks
2020 G.O. Bond Election voters approved upwards of $1.2 million in funding to improve parking lots and access roads at the City's major parks, including Sooner, Johnstone, Lyon, and Jo Allyn Lowe.
Siemers said plans for this project, which will be handled as one project, are complete and the City Council should be asked to consider approval of a construction contract this summer.
"Construction on this project should start later this summer or early fall," he said.
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Adams Golf Course greens rebuild
The Adams Municipal Golf Course greens rebuild project is a $2.2 million project that will replace all 18 greens on the course.
To facilitate the project, the course will close at the end of October and will partially reopen in January 2025.
Work has been ongoing at the golf course to help prepare for the project, resulting in about 200 trees being removed from the property in an effort to control erosion and promote grass growth.
This project is being funded through the 2018, 2020 and 2023 General Obligation Bond Elections, along with private donations.
Crestland concrete panel rehab
Work on the Crestland concrete panel replacement project between Adams Boulevard and Baylor Drive is expected to wrap up in the next six weeks, Siemers said.
“Construction is nearing completion on this project," he said. "The project has included replacement of cracked concrete panels, some sidewalk replacement, and also addition of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant ramps at intersections. The project not only included Crestland between Adams and Baylor, but also included Baylor Place that loops between Baylor and Crestland.”
The $775,500 project was approved by voters in the 2020 G.O. Bond Election.
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City Hall upgrades
City Hall will be getting a bit of a makeover over several projects, including:
- Window replacements ($306,000 2020 G.O. Bond)
- Restrooms remodel ($300,000 Capital Reserve Fund)
- Lighting upgrades ($200,000 Capital Reserve Fund)
- New carpet ($39,200 Capital Improvement Projects Sales Tax)
- Roof repair ($70,500 2020 G.O. Bond)
- City Hall server room A/C replacement/upgrade ($25,000 Capital Improvement Projects Sales Tax)
- Security upgrades ($350,000 Capital Reserve Fund)
"Some voter-approved projects for City Hall, such as the boiler replacement ($185,000 2020 G.O. Bond Election) and Cooling Tower Replacement ($126,500 Capital Improvement Projects Sales Tax), have been completed already while others are slated for the near-term," Siemers said. "The restrooms, for instance, have not been updated since the 1960s, so it is definitely time to make some improvements there.
"For the longer-term, security upgrades are in the planning stages. The public will still have complete access but staff will be made safer with these upgrades. Unfortunately, these are things we have to think about in today's world."
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Tuxedo Bridge rehab
The $1.2 million Tuxedo Bridge Rehabilitation Project remains postponed after regulatory agencies discovered the possible presence of several species of bats and mussels in the area.
"We have had Tuxedo Bridge reduced to one lane westbound for more than a year due to the time it takes to plan and design a project of this magnitude, and also delays after it was determined that we would need to work around the presence of bats under the bridge deck and mussels in the river below," Siemers said. "Between the two, we essentially have to wait until this summer to bid the project and closer to September to start the project. So currently, that is the plan."
Siemers said construction on the bridge could start in August or September and should take upwards of nine months to complete. Both bridge lanes westbound will be closed during most of the project.
Sunset/Butler Creek Bridge Project
Temporary patching has been done to the existing bridge on Sunset Boulevard over Butler Creek until more extensive repairs can be made. Voters approved $1 million in funding in the 2020 G.O. Bond Election to complete a full rehabilitation and deck reconstruction in addition to maintenance work on the piers and pier caps.
An additional $400,000 was approved in the most recent (2020) Capital Improvement Projects Sales Tax Election for the Sunset Pathfinder extension and pedestrian bridge. This multi-phased project consists of constructing a pedestrian bridge over Butler Creek and utilizing the bicycle lane on the east side of Sunset Boulevard to connect Lupa to Oak Park Road. At some point in the future, improvements will be made to the existing sidewalk between Parkview Drive and Oak Park Road to complete the connection of the pedestrian trail.
The pedestrian bridge project will be combined with the Sunset Bridge project to cause the least inconvenience to motorists and Oak Park housing addition residents.
Siemers said the project design is complete and staff are working with property owners to acquire right-of-way to facilitate the pedestrian bridge portion of the project.
The project could go to the City Council for contract approval towards the end of this summer. Construction is slated to begin in late summer or early fall of this year.
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Annual block party
Bartlesville Public Library, Bartlesville Fire Department, and Bartlesville Police Department held their annual block party on Saturday.
Above: A youngster attempts to dunk Bartlesville Police Officer Tyler Heck.
Left, top: The library held a book sale during the event.
Left, bottom: Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were on display.
To view more photos of the event, see City of Bartlesville GOV Facebook page.
All photos by Becky Burch Slack
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Applications accepted for Ward 4 appointment | |
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Applications will be accepted through 11:30 a.m. on May 3 from Ward 4 residents interested in filling the seat vacated recently with the passing of Councilor Billie Roane, who died April 5 following a brief illness.
Roane had represented Ward 4 on the City Council since 2021, when she was appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of then-vice mayor Alan Gentges. She was elected by a vote of the people in 2022. During a meeting held Monday, the City Council voted to begin the process of appointing someone to fill Roane's unexpired term.
Per the City Charter, to be eligible for the position applicants must:
- Be a Ward 4 resident for at least six months prior to the appointment. (For more information about Ward 4 boundaries, see City Ward Maps and Ward 4 Map.)
- Have no felony convictions.
- Be at least 25 years of age.
- Hold no other position in the city government by appointment of the city manager or public office which would constitute a conflict of interest.
City Council members work on a “volunteer” basis, receiving only a modest monthly stipend ($10 per meeting, up to $40 per month) in attendance fees.
Resumes and letters of interest should be submitted to the city manager’s office, located on the second floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to City Hall, attn: City Manager's Office, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., Bartlesville, OK 74003.
Resumes will be accepted through 11:30 a.m. on May 3.
Interviews will be conducted in the weeks following and the appointee will possibly be chosen at the June 3 City Council meeting. If the chosen candidate is present, they can be sworn in at that meeting.
All five City Council seats are subject to election during the general election cycle this November.
For more information about this position, contact the City Manager's Office at 918.338.4282.
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What's NEXT?
Effective Infrastructure is one of five Strategic Priorities identified in the Bartlesville NEXT Strategic Plan. Bartlesville NEXT is an organizational blueprint for the City of Bartlesville that outlines key objectives, goals and strategies for the next three to five years. For more information about the City's strategic plan, see Bartlesville NEXT.
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City fire hydrant testing, flushing continues | |
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The City of Bartlesville Water Utilities Department will continue testing and flushing fire hydrants. The City tests and flushes fire hydrants on an annual basis to ensure that they are in proper working order.
The process will be completed in sections. Flushing will be conducted between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday.
During the flushing process, some discoloration of water may occur. Please use caution when laundering clothes.
Crews are currently working in Zone 3 (from Frank Phillips Boulevard south to Sand Creek, from the railroad tracks going west to city limit) and Zone 7 (from the northern city limits south to Frank Phillips, from Washington Boulevard west to the Caney River). Upon completion of Zones 3 and 7, crews will continue moving into the next areas to be flushed and will move through the city until all fire hydrants have been tested and flushed.
For flushing locations and times, see www.cityofbartlesville.org.
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Free yard debris collection set for May 6-10 | |
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The City's next free yard debris collection will take place the week of May 6-10.
Bartlesville residents can put their bagged yard debris or bundled tree limbs at their normal trash collection point on their normal trash day during the week of the event and City crews will come by and pick them up.
The collection is for the following items only:
- Leaves
- Grass
- Lawn clippings
- Limbs and branches if cut in lengths no longer than four feet and bundled (may not exceed 50 pounds)
During this event only, yard debris bags will not require yard waste stickers, and clear or colored bags are allowed.
The collection is for private residences only; no commercial collections will be made.
There is no limit on the number of bags a resident can put out for the collection. Extra bags or items of household refuse outside the cart must have the red refuse sticker attached.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste Department at 918.338.4130.
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Miller named EAC April Employee of the Month | |
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City Manager Mike Bailey, right, congratulates Water Utilities Inspector Red Miller, who was named April Employee of the Month by the City's Employee Advisory Committee.
Miller was selected for the honor after being nominated by Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen.
"In December, Mr. Cook was downtown conducting business when he tripped and fell on the sidewalk. He said he was a bloody mess and hurt bad," Lauritsen wrote in his nomination letter. "He called in today to say that he has finally healed up and he wanted to report that a City employee, Red Miller, saw the whole thing happen and immediately came over to help without hesitation. Red helped him up and got him into the building to get assistance. Mr. Cook said there were several people around, but Red Miller was the one who stepped up and helped him. He said that Red was a true gentleman and stayed with him the entire time, stating 'He was a good friend to me when I needed it the most.'"
Miller received eight hours of special vacation, $25 in Chamber Bucks, and a restaurant gift card.
To nominate a City of Bartlesville employee for Employee of the Month, email information to [email protected].
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Board, Committee & Commission Openings
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 available 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 openings on the following committees/boards:
- One opening on the Ambulance Commission
- One opening on the Bartlesville Area History Museum Trust Authority
- One opening on Visit Bartlesville (Bartlesville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Board of Directors)
For more information, visit the City's website, www.cityofbartlesville.org.
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City of Bartlesville Communications Department
Kelli Williams, Chief Communications Officer
[email protected]
Kelsey Walker, Communication/Marketing Manager
[email protected]
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