City Beat July 20, 2021

City Beat

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July 20, 2021

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COVID-19

COVID Relief Fund Program ready to launch

Concern now accepting individual applications for assistance

Concern, a local non-profit organization that has partnered with the City of Bartlesville to provide COVID relief funds to Bartlesville residents impacted by the pandemic, is now accepting applications for the program, Assistant City Planner Nancy Warring said this week.

The COVID Relief Fund Program, made possible through grant funding from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, targets low to moderate income residents in need of rental, utility or mental health assistance as a result of employment/income loss or hardships, child care issues or illness due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for the program — a total of $936,189 — comes from the ODOC's Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Disease Relief Program grant. The City applied for the grant in February and received notification of approval in April.

"In an effort to secure funding that will help local residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Bartlesville applied for and has been approved for this grant funding," Warring said. "The City has partnered with Concern, a local non-profit organization with the expertise and systems already in place to begin administering funds for rent and utility assistance as quickly as possible, to facilitate these portions of the program."

Warring said staff from both organizations began working several weeks ago to construct the program and formulate an agreement between the City and Concern that "best accommodates all concerned."

"We are happy to announce this week that we have reached an agreement and are ready for final consideration by the City Council," Warring said.

In a final administrative step, the council will consider approval of the agreement during its regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 2. Once approved, the City will transfer the first $50,000 to Concern to dispense to qualified individuals.

"These are up-front funds that the City will get reimbursement for after Concern has made payment to someone and sent us the documentation," Warring said.

She said applications are being accepted by Concern at this time.

"We encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to contact Concern and begin the application process," she said.

Rent assistance

You must be a Bartlesville resident.
You must be renting your home.
You must be requesting assistance for bills dated no earlier than Jan. 21, 2020.
You must have a total household income in the low to moderate range, per HUD guidelines (see below).
Your inability to pay rent must have been due to COVID-19.
You must not claim the same assistance from any other source.

Required documentation:

Proof of identity
Proof of Bartlesville residency
Past due notice(s)
Rental agreement
Proof of COVID-19 connection

Utility assistance

You must be a Bartlesville resident.
You must be requesting assistance for bills dated no earlier than Jan. 21, 2020.
You must have a total household income in the low to moderate range, per HUD guidelines (see below).
Your inability to pay utilities must have been due to COVID-19.
You must not claim the same assistance from any other source.

Required documentation:

Proof of identity
Proof of Bartlesville residency
Past due notice(s)
Proof of COVID-19 connection

HUD guidelines for household income:

To apply for rent or utility assistance, bring your required documentation to Concern, located at 333 S. Penn Avenue. For more information about rent or utility assistance, call 918.214.8945.

Mental health assistance

For the mental health portion of the program, the City will reimburse Grand Lake Mental Health Center for iPads that were provided by GLMHC to individuals in need of mental health assistance as well as the associated data plans.

"We are very pleased to see this program progress so that the citizens who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic can begin getting the help they need," said City Manager Mike Bailey. "We hope these relief funds will indeed bring some relief to those who are struggling, and allow them to meet such basic needs as housing, mental health, and utility services."

COVID infections continue to rise statewide

Officials report uptick in new cases in Washington County

With new infections of COVID-19 continuing to rise across the country, area officials are watching an uptick in local cases as well — and say low vaccination rates could contribute to yet another surge in infections in Washington County.

"We are starting to see an uptick in COVID numbers locally, including within our organization," said City Manager Mike Bailey. "Unfortunately, our very low vaccination rates make our community more susceptible to another surge. We are still in the 'Yellow' category and will hopefully stay that way, but we are at our highest level since March 31, 2021."

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma currently ranks 26th in the number of total reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and ninth in the cumulative incidence (per 100,000 persons) of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

CDC provisional state data shows that 467,198 Oklahomans have contracted the virus and, of those, 8,671 have died. There are currently 5,496 active cases in Oklahoma, including 465 new cases. As of this morning, the seven-day rolling average in new cases in Oklahoma is 733.

In Washington County, 5,384 people have contracted the virus, and 119 have died, according to the OSDH.

CDC stats show that 1.8 million Oklahoman's have received at least one does of the vaccine, while 1.5 million have been fully vaccinated.

In Washington County, 30.4 percent of the population has been vaccinated, according to the CDC.

In the U.S., more than 34 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 609,000 people have died.

Reports indicate the vast majority of new infections, hospitalizations and deaths are among those unvaccinated. But health officials warn that other precautions to protect against the disease are still warranted, even for those fully vaccinated. In Oklahoma, more than 1,000 fully vaccinated people have contracted the virus and, of those, 14 had died as of earlier this month.

"Oklahoma’s current trend with new positive cases continues to reflect community transmission, which can be reduced by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, keeping six feet of physical distance from others, wearing face coverings when around individuals from outside the household, avoiding touching your face, and regular hand-washing," OSDH said last week.

Symptoms of COVID-19 vary, but include congestion, headache, fever and cough. Variants could cause similar or slightly different symptoms, including sore throat or a runny nose.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, visit vaccinate.oklahoma.gov, or locate other vaccine opportunities at vaccines.gov. Vaccines are also available at local pharmacies and other organizations.

"Unfortunately, it is likely that we have not seen the last of COVID-19," said Bailey. "We certainly encourage everyone who hasn't done so to consider getting vaccinated. This is the single most effective thing we can do to stop the virus from spreading. We also encourage everyone to continue following the guidelines of the CDC — all of which are quite well known by now; wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands."

Your Questions

Highways in Bartlesville responsibility of ODOT; City Beat subscription tip

By Kelli Williams

Are there any plans in the near future to improve Adams from Silver Lake Road to the overpass? The potholes in this stretch of road are an embarrassment to the city.

What we call Adams Boulevard, from the overpass to the western city limits, is also U.S. Highway 60. Highway 60 is owned and maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, not the City of Bartlesville. This also applies to the entire length (in Bartlesville) of Washington Boulevard, which is U.S. Highway 75, and to Hensley Boulevard, which is State Highway 123. US-60 is included in ODOT's "8-year Plan" for reconstruction/repairs and is scheduled for funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2025.

Other local projects included in the 8-year plan are:

Funding: Federal Fiscal Year 2021

U.S. Highway 75 from Turkey Creek Bridge north to Eastland Parkway ($113,000)
State Highway 123 over the Caney River, 1.7 miles north of the SH-123/US-60 junction ($8,480,000)
State Highway 123 over an unnamed creek, 2.9 miles northeast of the US-60/SH-123 junction ($2,181,000)
U.S. Highway 75 from four miles south of U.S. Highway 60 extended north 5.5 miles ($5,665,000)

Funding: FFY 2022

The right of way and utility design ($21,218 each) portions of the US-60 reconstruction from State Highway 123 east 3.71 miles are slated for funding in FFY 2022.

Funding: FFY 2023

U.S. Highway 60 over U.S. Highway 75 ($3,444,400)

Funding: FFY 2025

U.S. Highway 60 from State Highway 123 east 3.71 miles ($16,695,000)

See the full 8-year Plan at www.oklahoma.gov. See ODOT's website for contact information.

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News & Updates

Citizens Police Academy enrollment opens

Classes, held on Tuesday evenings, set to begin August 31

The Bartlesville Police Department is accepting applications for the next Citizens Police Academy, scheduled to begin on Aug. 31, Capt. Troy Newell said recently.

To be considered for the next academy, applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 17. Applications for the 12-week course can be obtained in person at the Police Department, located at 615 S. Johnstone Ave., or by emailing Newell at [email protected].

The objective of the academy is to improve the general understanding of policing among citizens, thereby enabling them to make more informed judgments about policing and to develop a trust between our citizens, Newell said.

"Law enforcement work is often misunderstood," he said. "The Citizens Police Academy gives us a chance to pull back the curtain and show the public what we really do."

Newell said its good for the department, too.

"We've received some great feedback and have made some great friends within the community," he said. "This support makes us all more effective at our jobs."

The academy is free to attend and meets 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays for 12 weeks. Class sizes are limited to ensure the quality of the course.

"The objective of the academy is not to make police officers out of the graduates, but to make them better-informed residents, with an accurate knowledge of the department's responsibilities and functions," Newell said.

Citizens Police Academy is taught by police officers and other personnel in their own area of expertise. Sessions cover a range of topics, including patrol functions, jail operations, 911 communications, hiring and training of officers, domestic violence issues, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, narcotics, DUI enforcement, and officer use of force, officer safety, crime prevention and defensive tactics.

Chief Tracy Roles said one of the goals of the academy is to create ambassadors in the community for the department.

"I think some of the rewards of the program, again, go back to the support we get in the community," he said. "The Bartlesville community is very supportive of our department. I would hope the citizens who have completed the citizens’ academy are spreading our message."

2021 Operation Clean House set for September 18

Operation Clean House will be held this year on Sept. 18. Sponsored by multiple area agencies, including the City of Bartlesville, organizations and businesses, the event is aimed at helping Washington County residents dispose of hazardous household and automotive goods without harming the environment or endangering human health. Details for this year's event, including accepted items and drop-off locations, will be announced soon. For the latest OCH news, follow @OperationCleanHouseWashingtonCounty.

BAHM hosts Native American Heritage Night

Native American Heritage Night, hosted by the Bartlesville Area History Museum, will begin at 7 p.m. tonight in Unity Square, BAHM officials said today. The event is part of the 2021 Summer Lecture Series.

"Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets and enjoy some delicious dinner from local food trucks Shortie's Grill and Ryan’s Dawgs. Watch presentations on history and culture from representatives from the Cherokee, the Delaware, and the Osage," said BAHM Coordinator Delaney Williams.

Upcoming museum events include:

Coffee with Carl

July 26 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: BAHM

Bring your lunch and have a cup of coffee with Carl McCullough, author of "Sid and the Boys."

Hometown History Book Club

July 27 — 7 p.m.

Location: BAHM

This is the final meeting on "Killers of the Flower Moon," featuring a video call with author David Grann as he talks about the book and answers questions.

The Melting Pot of Bartlesville

Aug. 10 — 7 p.m.

Location: Unity Square

Listen to presentations on immigration and how it has helped shape our history and culture, from Kay Little of Little History Adventures and Joe Todd, author of "The Shoemaker." Food trucks Shortie's Grill, Ryan’s Dawgs and Andolini’s Pizza will be on-site.

Unity Square is located at 300 S.E. Adams Blvd. in Bartlesville. BAHM is located on the fifth floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. All events are free and open to the public. For more information contact BAHM at 918.338.4290 or email [email protected].

Volunteer Opportunities

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 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 committee/board openings: