Trevor Dorsey appointed to City Council

The Bartlesville City Council on Monday voted 4-0 to appoint Trevor Dorsey to fill the the council's Ward 5 seat, which was recently vacated by Dr. Joseph Callahan.

The temporary appointment will be effective until November, when all five City Council seats are subject to election.

Dorsey was sworn in during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Monday. He was one of seven Ward 5 residents to apply for the appointment following Callahan's resignation from the board last November due to an employment change.

Dorsey, who currently works for Regent Bank of Nowata, serves on the City Planning Commission as well as several boards and committees including the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Board, Bartlesville Boys & Girls Club Board, Washington County Livestock Extension Board and Bartlesville United Way Grant Committee. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Bartlesville.

Top: Ward 5 Councilor Trevor Dorsey, left, was seated after being sworn into office on Monday. Dorsey joins fellow councilors, from right, Mayor Dale Copeland, Vice Mayor John J. Kane, Jim Curd Jr. and Alan Gentges on the board.

BPD Officers Earn Life Saving Awards

The City Council on Monday presented Bartlesville Police Department Officers Steven Silver, Brandon Meyer, William Lewis and Josh Newell with the department's Life Saving Award for their actions during separate incidents that occurred in December 2017. On Dec. 25, 2017, Newell and Lewis, bottom left, administered the rescue drug NARCAN, which void the effects of opioid-based drugs in the body, and did chest compressions on a man who had collapsed at a party. Meyer and Silver, top center, pulled a woman from a burning house during their shift on Dec. 28. Mayor Dale Copeland, top left, and BPD Patrol Capt. Rocky Bevard presented the awards.

Braums starts construction on new store; Popeye's still headed for US 75

Is there something going in on the lot just north of the Gusher Car Wash on South Washington Boulevard or just remediation work?

The property in question is the site of the new Braums store. The new store at this location will replace the existing one across the street, at 2539 S.E. Washington Blvd.

According to the City's Community Development Department, the new store will consist of a 6,067 square foot building with a construction value of $800,000. The facility will have a full service food and drink component and a grocery mart.

Ground has been broken on the project and construction is underway by Wattsco of Oklahoma Co. of El Reno, Okla. It is anticipated the new store will open sometime this summer.

Plans are also in motion to remodel the Braums store at 3820 S.E. Adams Road, but no target date for that project has been set.

Popeye's property closing anticipated this spring

Is there any progress on Popeyes?

According to officials with the Bartlesville Development Authority, the project is still on track despite some delays. The BDA has been authorized to reimburse up to $65,000 for the demolition of the structures on the property, which is the site of the former Sooner Motel, at 1300 S.E. Washington Blvd. Officials anticipate closing on the property will occur this spring, at which time more activity will likely be seen at the site.

Demolition makes way for new Casey's store

What is going on with the new Casey's store planned for Nowata Road and Madison Boulevard?

The Community Development Department issued a demolition permit on Feb. 1 to Williams Construction of Springfield, Mo. to demolish the structure and accessories at 1705 Madison Boulevard. The demolition will make way for the construction of the new Casey's store on the southwest corner of Madison and Nowata Road. The demolition began Monday, Feb. 5. Officials with the company have said the existing Casey's, located at 5350 S.E. Adams Blvd., will remain open.

Activity spotted near Silver Lake Village

 

Do you have any information about what is happening on the east side of Silver Lake Village Shopping Center?

According to the Engineering Department, KSL Dirt Works is installing a fence and has just completed an access driveway for the property owner east of Silver Lake Village. Crews will likely be smoothing grading on that side as well as the north side of Adams Boulevard, on the City-owned Lee Lake property, to finish up construction activities associated with the development.

Park's plaza, sidewalk projects complete

The construction of a stone paver plaza, decorative lighting and sidewalk in Johnstone Park is complete.

Both projects were funded with grant money from the Community Development Block Grant, Small Cities Set Aside Program and matching funds. One requirement of the grant is the holding of a final public hearing after completion of the project to assess and discuss the City's performance in the administration of the grant. The final hearing was held during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting at City Hall on Monday. No citizens turned out to speak on the matter.

The City of Bartlesville received funding for Fiscal Year 2016 in the amount of $129,354, which was used with matching city funds in the amount of $148,012 for the construction of a 7,336-foot stone paver plaza and 12,578 feet of concrete work, which included 835 linear feet of 10-foot sidewalk.

Community Development Director Lisa Beeman told the council Monday that all requirements of the grant had been met and will now be closed.

Playground Installation Underway

City of Bartlesville Parks Department crews are in the process of installing the playground equipment — funded in part by the Bartlesville Community Foundation — at the City-owned Price Fields Complex, located north of Tuxedo Boulevard near Silver Lake Road. Work is also underway to install a temporary concession facility, located just southeast of the playground. The facility was donated by Armstrong Bank. Parks Department Superintendent Bobby Robinson says the equipment and concession will hopefully be up and ready to use by the start of baseball season or shortly after.

GO Bond voters must register by Friday

The deadline to register to vote in the March 6 General Obligation Bond Election is Feb. 9. The election will determine funding for several proposed community projects, including street repairs, storm drainage improvements, a new pumper truck for the fire department and multiple parks and recreation projects — such as a new fence for Kiddie Park, construction of the Price Tower Green and the continued renovation of the Price Fields Complex.

Those who are not already registered have until Feb. 9 to do so to be eligible to take part in the election. Voters in this election must reside within the city limits of Bartlesville.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Application Forms are available at the Washington County Election Board Office, located at 420 S. Johnstone Ave., Suite 101 Bartlesville, OK 74003, and all post offices, public libraries and tag agencies. Forms are also available for download on the State Election Board website, www.elections.ok.gov . The deadline for registration applications to be received by the Washington County Election Board Office for the March 6 election is Friday, Feb. 9. Forms must be mailed in time to be postmarked by midnight on Feb. 9.

For more information, call the election board at 918-337-2850 or visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website, https://www.ok.gov/elections/ For more information about the bond package and proposed projects, see G.O. Bond Election 2018 FAQ .

Foundation takes ownership of Frank Phillips Home

After nearly two years of discussions and legal processes, the Oklahoma Historical Society last week conveyed to the Frank Phillips Foundation the deed that finalizes the transfer of the Frank Phillips Home and grounds.

Dr. Bob Blackburn of the Oklahoma Historical Society along with acting City Manager Mike Bailey joined Frank Phillips Foundation Chairman Robert Kane and CEO Bob Fraser for the formal ceremony in the library of the Home.

"This process exceeded our expectations," Blackburn said. "Due to nine consecutive years of budget cuts, the OHS has been forced to make changes in our operations and reduce the number of historic properties under our management. The opportunity for us to work with the City of Bartlesville and ultimately convey this wonderful home to the Frank Phillips Foundation was perfect. Bartlesville has always been a special community, and I was not surprised when they stepped up to not only protect this important piece of history, but they have raised the funds to make sure that it is viable for generations to come.”

"It was a perfect fit for us, a true mission match and we were glad that we were able to help," Kane said. "It was very encouraging to our board the overwhelming support of the Bartlesville community and from the Phillips family. Everyone was encouraged by the prospect of bringing Woolaroc and the Frank Phillips Home back under one entity for the first time in 68 years, and it was satisfying to see how well the State worked with the City of Bartlesville and with our Foundation in order to make this happen. City Manager Ed Gordon and acting City Manager Mike Bailey, along with their staffs, helped speed up this entire process and were very helpful in making this a reality.”

The home, located at 1107 S. Cherokee Ave., was built in 1909 by Frank and Jane Phillips and added on to in 1930. Built in Greek Revival style, it has four levels, 26 rooms, servants’ quarters, potting shed, gardeners’ cottage and grounds.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to own and operate the Frank Phillips Home” said Fraser. “The home has been beautifully maintained and we look forward to preserving and promoting it for generations to come. Our plans call for a complete exterior paint that will include repairs to some damaged areas, adding additional parking, renovating the Gardener’s Cottage, and returning the greenhouse to a true working greenhouse again. We anticipate weddings on the grounds, concerts, luncheons and artists — we want this grand home to come alive again and be an important part of the fiber of our community.”

The Frank Phillips Home is open Wednesday through Saturday. Call 918-336-2491 to schedule a tour and for more information.

Photo: Dr. Bob Blackburn of the Oklahoma Historical Society, left, and Bob Fraser, CEO of the Frank Phillips Foundation, signed the formal documents conveying the Frank Phillips Home to the Frank Phillips Foundation last week.

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