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The Bartlesville City Council voted 5-0 Monday to approve the proposed Operating and Capital Projects budgets for the upcoming 2021-22 Fiscal Year. The budget adoption process will be finalized this month and budgets will go into effect July 1.

The FY 2021-22 Operating Budget is based on flat sales tax projections for the upcoming year and includes $2.9 million in federal stimulus funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The budget also includes fee adjustments for City of Bartlesville utility customers, which are necessary to fund upcoming capital needs mandated by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency and to maintain the current level of utility services.

The City is under mandate to make extensive upgrades to its wastewater infrastructure, including an estimated $45 million in waste water treatment plant renovations. The cost to complete all required utility upgrades is around $65 million.

"Nobody is excited about wastewater until they have a problem or they get a bill, but it is hugely expensive," Copeland said. "In the length of time I've been on the council, we have been talking about wastewater year after year now."

Copeland said the first three phases of waste water improvements were funded through cash flow but that the fourth phase, the wastewater treatment plant renovations, will require extensive financing.

"We cannot do Phase IV that way," he said. "A $45 million sewer plant is probably one of, if not the biggest capital projects this City has undertaken. We don't have a choice. We are mandated by EPA and ODEQ to do this. We've known that for some time. We have tried to pace it as well as possible but that day is now upon us."

The rate increases are based on findings from a recently completed study by consultant company NewGen. The company conducted a comprehensive cost study for the City’s water, wastewater and solid waste services based on several criteria including operating and maintenance expenses, outstanding debt service, capital outlay, and vehicle replacement costs.

The increases represent an approximate 7.8 percent increase in utility rates for the average residential customer, and will mean an increase of about $7 per month in utility fees based on 6,500 gallons of water usage and 4,500 gallons of wastewater.

The adjustments include a $1 increase for base water rates and a $0.25 per thousand gallons for water, a base increase of $2 and an incremental rate increase of $0.20 per thousand gallons for wastewater, and an increase of $1.50 for sanitation carts in addition to an increase in commercial sanitation rates.

The City's current rates are lower than cities in the region of similar size, a status that will not significantly change even with the increase, CFO/City Clerk/Treasurer Jason Muninger told the council.

"The increases will bring our rates from the lower end of the spectrum to around the middle in comparison to other cities our size," Muninger said.

NewGen has recommended the rate increases be spread out over a five-year period, beginning with the first increase on July 1; however, the council opted to approve only first-year increases with plans to review options for potential increases in future years. Some adjustments to the schedule could include delaying the effective date to avoid higher water costs in the summertime and/or slowing the escalation of the increases over future years.

Copeland said all five councilors are mindful of the impact these and future rate increases will have on Bartlesville residents and businesses but that the adjustments cannot be avoided.

"This council is extremely sensitive to this," said Copeland. "We get the same utility bills that everyone else in the room and the city gets. We do not take these actions lightly, recognizing that our city has to conform and comply, for so many reasons, with requirements for water, wastewater and sanitation and the costs that go with that. So we do understand the impact. We also understand the need to maintain the cash flows that Mr. Muninger talks about and to operate our city in a safe, responsible way."

Other highlights in the FY 2021-22 budget include:

Also approved Monday was the Capital Projects Budget, which includes expenditures funded through the City's Half-cent Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Sales Tax and General Obligation Bonds, both of which are approved by voters.

The upcoming budget includes $7.9 million in G.O. Bond funding for capital projects and $2.7 million in Half-cent CIP Sales Tax funds.

Capital projects budgeted to receive funding in FY 2021-22 include:

The council also approved $897,600 for the Bartlesville Development Authority budget, which is used for economic development. The council oversees funding for the BDA, which works to recruit industry and retain jobs in Bartlesville. Money for this program is provided via the voter-approved Quarter-cent Economic Development Sales Tax. Visit Bartlesville, which promotes tourism to the area, is also funded through the BDA budget.

For a full list of capital projects that will receive funding during FY 2021-22, see 2020 G.O. Bond Projects and 2020 CIP Projects. To read the budget in its entirety, see 2021-22 Fiscal Year Budget.

Police Chief Tracy Roles was recognized this week by Grand Lake Mental Health for his work in promoting support for mental health issues in Bartlesville.

GLMH CEO Larry Smith presented the award to Roles during a surprise ceremony at the police department on Wednesday.

Smith said Roles has been instrumental in providing training for Bartlesville police officers in dealing with mental health issues in the community and cited a program that allowed GLMH to supply police officers with in-car iPads so the officer can immediately connect a person having a mental health issue with a mental health care provider.

"Bartlesville is a unique community in the fact that they're one of the first communities that accepted the concept of crisis services into their police cars," Smith said during the presentation. "They allowed Grand Lake Mental Health to put an iPad in every one of their police cars early on and training to those officers in how to use those iPads. Those iPads (have) become the first responder for the mental health services needed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. That program is now going nationwide. It's being recognized as the future of crisis intervention and crisis services to assist police officers in their duties.

"Chief Roles has trained 60 police officers in how to deal with mental health issues, how to intervene and how to do it in the least restrictive way possible to make sure people can get the services they need," Smith said. "You can see his leadership across the city of Bartlesville, you can see it in police officers and you can see it how they approach people with mental illness."

Roles credited retired BPD Sgt. Jim Warring for helping to lead the department in implementing measures that support mental health efforts in the community, both prior to his retirement and in his new role as the Law Enforcement Engagement Director for GLMH.

"He's the one who deserves this award more than I, but certainly I appreciate it," Roles said in accepting the award. "I appreciate Grand Lake Mental Health and all that you guys do to help provide services to those who really need them. I'm glad that our department is able to assist you in the way that we do so we can help the citizens of Bartlesville. Because at the end of the day, that's what law enforcement is about: It's about helping the citizens of our community in one way or another."

Thanks to their quick response and actions that helped save the life of a local man recently, Bartlesville Police Department Cpl. Brad Dunkle and Officer Luke Reeves were awarded the police department's prestigious Life Saving Award during the City Council meeting Monday.

The award is in recognition of their life-saving actions in response to a person who was found hanging behind a local church recently, Police Chief Tracy Roles said during the award presentation. Roles said Dunkle was first on the scene and moved quickly to cut the rope and begin administering CPR to the man, alternating with Reeves once he arrived at the location. The officers continued administering CPR until medical personnel arrived on-scene, at which time a pulse was established and the person was transported to the hospital.

"There is no doubt the actions of Office Dunkle and Officer Reeves helped save the life of this person," Roles said. "This is a great example of leadership and proper response to a situation that could have ended with the death of one of our citizens. Your quick response and actions taken that day are a testimony of your dedication not only to the Bartlesville Police Department but to the citizens of our city. So it is an honor to present both of you the Life Saving Award."

After donating a hard-earned $100 to the Lighthouse Outreach Center last month, 6-year-old Bartlesville resident Reverie Pester was commended by the City Council on Monday for her community activism.

Ward 4 Councilor Billie Roane presented the commendation, saying Pester earned the money by doing chores after witnessing a local homeless man and feeling inspired to help him. Roane said Pester saved the money she earned in a puzzle box, beginning in November 2020.

"There aren't a lot of grownups who would have stayed in the game that long, but you did," Roane said.

"At the tender age of six years old, Miss Pester’s compassion, her selfless actions and her generous donation are to be commended," Roane said to audience applause.

The City Council heard a presentation Monday regarding potential recycling options in Bartlesville following the temporary closure of the City's drop-off recycle center, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue. The center has been closed since April, when a fire severely damaged Tulsa Recycle and Transfer, the company that processes the City's recyclable materials.

Mark Armen, founder and CEO of Replenysh, a California technology-based company that connects recycling efforts with brands interested in purchasing recycled materials, addressed the council by saying his company seeks to connect recyclers and purchasers of the recyclable material.

"Today, contrary to public belief, there are strong markets for recycled materials and the demand is insatiable," Armen said. "Major consumer brands, retailers and manufacturers have made supply chain commitments to buy and incorporate recycled materials into their new products."

These entities have a problem, however: "They cannot get their hands on enough of it," he said.

Armen says the City "is sitting on" approximately $771,000 of material value across five materials: Cardboard, PET containers (water bottle or soda bottle plastic), HDPE containers - natural (milk jug plastic), HDPE containers -color (laundry detergent plastic) and aluminum cans.

"In other words, the City would earn $771,000.00, less transportation fees, if 100 percent of this material was collected and marketed directly to buyers," he said. "I am not asking the City to buy a baler and start marketing material directly; however, I am arguing that materials have value and we should stop burying or burning them."

Armen said Replenysh works with major consumer brands, retailers and manufacturers to recover these materials and inject them into the supply chain. He said Replenysh is not a service but rather builds tools for both the supply and demand by onboarding hosts and members.

"Hosts are communities, organizations, businesses or individuals who accept source-separated materials and monetize those materials, and members are individuals who want to give their used products and materials new life. Hosts can request a pickup or transport materials directly to buyers for additional earnings," he said. "For example, a local retailer could accept materials from their customers and request a pickup whereas a local dog rescue organization or Boy Scouts troop could accept materials and drive them to our network of buyers."

City staff say that if implemented, the service would likely work best in Bartlesville by the holding of recycling events sponsored by the City and/or other non-profit organizations. The events would allow recyclers to drop off their pre-sorted materials at a designated site, which would then be transported to an area buyer.

The council took no action on the issue as the agenda item was for discussion only. Armen said he will continue to work with City staff to determine whether the program is appropriate for Bartlesville.

Photo by Debby Urken on Unsplash

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has agreed to pay for the relocation of City water and sanitary sewer facilities necessary to facilitate road and bridge improvements for State Highway 123 over the Caney River.

The City Council this week approved a service agreement with Wall Engineering for engineering services for the relocation.

"The proposed ODOT project includes a new bridge alignment crossing the Caney River along Delaware," said Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen. "ODOT’s policy for this type of project is to require all utilities to be relocated outside of the proposed roadway, which requires a substantial amount of sanitary sewer and water line relocation."

Lauritsen said City staff requested and ODOT agreed to pay for both the engineering design ($107,200) and the construction of the water and sanitary sewer improvements (estimated to be $869,012).

"To expedite the design services, ODOT has requested the City contract with Wall Engineering," Lauritsen said. "ODOT will pay Wall Engineering directly based on invoices approved by the City, thus the City will not incur any expense on the project."

Design on the Gateway and Wayfinding Signage project was approved this week by the City Council after several months of review by City staff and the citizen volunteer-driven Parks Board.

The project, recommended in the 2013 Community Strategic Plan and approved by voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election, involves the construction of gateway signage into the city at major entryways and wayfinding signage for parks and recreational facilities as well as the downtown redevelopment district and downtown entryways.

The project got underway in February when the council awarded a contract for the project to ACSM Inc. for the design, fabrication and installation of the signage. Since that time, the Park Board and City staff have worked with ACSM President Glen Nocik and his staff to develop a signage design concept for the project, said Community Development Director Lisa Beeman.

"We have a contractor who has been a real pleasure to work with," Beeman told the council Monday. "ACSM has brought a really great blend of technical ability and creativity to the project, giving us something that is unique to Bartlesville."

Beeman said the final design concept was reviewed and unanimously recommended for approval by the Park Board at a special meeting on May 5.

She said that for park signage, a "clean, modern look with powerful colors mixed with traditional textures" was selected, with hints of Frank Lloyd Wright flair, native inspired patterns and geometry found within the history of oil derricks "to merge into a cohesive system of signs that stand out without overwhelming their environment."

"For the wayfinding and gateway signs, we took a modern approach, but combined with a distinctly architectural flair," she said. "Careful attention was focused on incorporating the use of layers and dimensions to highlight the depth found within Bartlesville. A quick glance will provide the important wayfinding information you need, but upon closer inspection, you will recognize the details inspired by Bartlesville’s beautiful sunsets or the downtown skyline."

The design will now be used to finalize the master plan for a comprehensive and cohesive signage system for the community, Beeman said.

"This master plan will include the identification of the number, location and type of all signs, including final cost estimates for each sign type, which are necessary to create a more navigable city whether driving, biking or walking for both residents and visitors alike."

Beeman said the project will move forward with drawings, plans and specifications and ultimately the installation of the signs to complete Phase 1 of the project. Future phases could include additional wayfinding signs for multiple routes and trail blazer signs along Pathfinder Parkway, as well as additional park entryway signs for other parks, she said.

Installation of the signage could begin as soon as late summer, Beeman said.

The Bartlesville Police Department and the Westside Community Center of Bartlesville are teaming up to present "Traffic Stops: What should you know."

The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 26 at WCC, 501 S. Bucy Ave.

BPD officers will present information concerning what to do if you are pulled over by a police officer — including stops with which you might not agree.

Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets and listen to BAHM Education Coordinator Betty Keim and special guest speaker Kay Little talk about the history of toys and games, Little House on the Prairie and pioneer schools in Washington County. Between speakers, there will be fun and games and prizes. Picnics from home are welcome, or a variety of food trucks will be selling food on-site.

City crews continue to test and flush fire hydrants throughout Bartlesville with remaining zones scheduled as follows:

June 21, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at the northern city limits extending south to Frank Phillips Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard west to the Caney River

June 28, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at the northern city limits south to Tuxedo Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard east to Bison Road.

July 6, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at Tuxedo Boulevard extending south to Adams Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard east to Bison Road.

July 12, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at Kenwood extending south to Nowata Road; from the Caney River east to Washington Boulevard.

July 19, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at Adams Boulevard south to Nowata Road from Washington Boulevard east to the Industrial Park.

July 26, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Starting at Nowata Road extending south to Price Road; from Kane Hill east to Washington Boulevard.

Crews will continue to move throughout the city until all fire hydrants have been tested and flushed. Start dates for each section are estimates, depending on the weather and any complications that may arise. During the flushing process, some discoloration of water may occur. Please use caution when laundering clothes

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.

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

Dispatcher - Police Department

Fiscal Technician - Accounting & Finance

Construction Crew Leader - Water Department

Senior Vehicle Mechanic - Garage

Sanitation Collector 2 - Public Works

Maintenance Worker - Parks

Summer Help - Parks

Maintenance Worker - Wastewater

Maintenance Worker - Water Distribution

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

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Kelli Williams, Editor

401 S. Johnstone Ave.

Bartlesville, OK 74003

918-338-4132