City Beat November 9, 2021

City Beat

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November 9, 2021

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News & Updates

City-owned recycle center to reopen Monday

New Replenysh host site open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

The City Recycle Center is set to reopen with limited hours on Monday, Nov. 15, after being closed for several months due to a fire at Tulsa Recycle & Transfer, the company that previously sorted and processed items dropped off at the City-owned center, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue.

The City Recycle Center will now serve as a permanent "host site" for Replenysh, a California-based company responsible for the recent expansion of local recycling options for Bartlesville residents.

The center will be open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Public Works Director Keith Henry said today.

"They're moving the racks in today and are set to open on Monday," Henry said. "The center will be open three days during the week, excluding holidays, which is similar to other Replenysh sites."

Replenysh launched its recycling program in Bartlesville on Oct. 23 by holding a public recycling event at the City-owned Lee Lake Complex, located at 2700 S.E. Adams Blvd. Other host sites for public events have been added to the list of recycling options as well, which are available on Replenysh's Bartlesville Facebook page.

City Manager Mike Bailey said this week the reopening of the City-owned center has "taken longer than we would have liked," but is welcome news for Bartlesville recyclers.

"Our partnership with Replenysh has proven to be an excellent resource for Bartlesville residents who wish to recycle, so we are excited to announce the reopening of the City's drop-off recycle center in conjunction with the Replenysh program," Bailey said. "While this might have taken a little longer than we would have liked, we're confident this new arrangement will be even better for local residents who wish to recycle. It's a win-win for everyone."

The company will collect items from the center on an "as needed" basis and will then process and sell the items, returning a small portion of the revenue to the City, as it does other host sites.

"Based on the information we have now, this isn't expected to generate a lot of revenue. But we will know more once the program has been up and running for a while," Bailey said. He said revenue generated by the recycling program will be used to offset expenses for the service.

While accepted items may vary from one host site to another, items accepted at the City Recycle Center are:

Plastic PET #1 containers
Plastic PET #1 thermoforms
Plastic HDPE #2 containers
Aluminum cans
Steel cans
Cardboard

To join Replenysh, which is free, see http://join.replenysh.com/bartlesville-ok. For more information or to sign up to serve as a host site, contact Ryon Hart at ryon@replenysh.com or 323.301.7133.

File photo, courtesy of Replenysh

Project Update

Sooner Pool expansion to start next week

Project includes 2 45-foot slides, shelters, parking lot repairs

Nov. 15 has been set as the official start date for the voter-approved Sooner Pool Expansion Project, Director of Engineering Micah Siemers said this week.

A discretionary project included on the 2013 Half-cent Sales Tax extension ballot, the expansion involves the construction of two 45-foot slides, group shelters and other general improvements to the existing Sooner Pool facilities located in Sooner Park, 420 S.E. Madison Blvd.

"We had a pre-construction meeting for this project last week and have set the official start date as Nov. 15," Siemers said Monday. "Their target date for completion is July 5. We anticipate the pool will open for the summer season as it normally does in May, as the new elements of the project will be constructed adjacent to the existing pool deck so work will be ongoing as we approach that July 5 deadline."

The project overall, which also includes a resurfacing of the pool, is expected to cost approximately $2.8 million. Funding resources include voter-approved Half-cent Capital Improvement Project Sales Tax and General Obligation Bond funds (for the parking lot repair portion).

Siemers said contract crews will begin work on the parking lot in the pool area in the first leg of the project, then move toward the slides, tower and concrete deck installation.

"We know a lot of people are excited about this project, and we're looking forward to getting it started," he said.

Bartlesville Community Center

Two voter-approved projects underway at the Bartlesville Community Center — the concrete repair project and the auditorium renovation — continue to progress nicely.

Auditorium renovation: The seats

The auditorium renovation is still ongoing but contract crews have begun the installation of new seats and will continue to progress on a weekly basis, Siemers said

"The new seats are going in and they look great," he said. "(Contract crews) came in Monday and they got the first four or five sections of seats installed. They'll come back this week with an even larger crew and install more. It's a process, but the goal is for them to have as many seats as possible installed for the BCC's larger events coming up through the holiday season."

Auditorium renovation: ADA modernization

In September, the City Council approved funding for a project that will help modernize ADA seating at the BCC auditorium. Using money left over from ongoing BCC projects, some standard seating has been installed in the space designated for wheelchairs to allow seating for both in the same area.

“The original building did not have any wheelchair accessible seating areas, so years ago existing seating was removed in the bottom right portion of the auditorium and an elevated deck was constructed to provide space for around five wheelchairs,” Siemers said, noting that a wall was constructed to provide a barrier between the chairs and the row of seating above.

“While this provides a space for wheelchairs, it does not provide the option for someone in a wheelchair to sit next to a friend or family member who does not have a wheelchair.”

Siemers said the wheelchair accessible deck has been extended and standard auditorium seating has been installed with spaces next to them for wheelchairs — “more similar to what you would see in modern movie theaters, stadiums and auditoriums,” he said.

Concrete repairs

Contract crews began construction at the beginning of August to rehabilitate the concrete drive on the west side of the BCC. Funding for the project comes from the 2013 Half-cent Capital Improvement Projects Sales tax. Construction is wrapping up this week or next, Siemers said Monday.

"We just poured the final section of concrete on Friday and, other than a couple of light wells that need to be poured, once the concrete cures it should be up and running," he said. "We still have to seal the joints, but that shouldn't take long at all. I expect this project to be wrapped up in the week or two."

Photo courtesy of the Bartlesville Community Center

Frank Phillips Water Line

The Frank Phillips Water Line Replacement Project underway along Frank Phillips between U.S. Highway 75 and Silver Lake Road is nearing completion.

The project, which got underway in February, involves replacing two 60-plus-year-old water lines with a 20-inch line. The line is one of the main feeds for the nearby hospital and for the City’s “Hot, Warm and Cold” tanks.

"This project has been ongoing for some time but is getting close to completion," Siemers said this week. "We did the tie-ins yesterday at Silver Lake Road for the main 20-inch tie-in, and should start another one today near Birch Avenue. The last one we'll do is near CVS, west of U.S. Highway 75. After those tie-ins are complete they'll start laying sod and cleaning up to just finish the restoration portion of the project. We anticipate the project being complete in another couple of weeks."

Woodland Drainage Project

Approved by voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election, the Quail Place Tributary Project, often referred to as the Woodland Drainage Project, got underway in November 2020.

The project consists of improvements to the drainage system in the Woodland Park area, which has experienced flooding issues in recent years. Work on the tributary will essentially increase the size and capacity of the existing concrete-lined drainage channel and the box culvert under Cherokee Hills Drive.

Work got underway on the west end of the project at Cherokee Hills Drive near the end of the year in 2020, and several issues have caused delays beyond anyone's control, Siemers has said recently of the project.

"Unfortunately, we are still laboring through this one. It's about 50 percent complete," he said Monday. "Basically, three things conspired to slow down this project. First, the project was slow to get started because of heavy rainfall. Another problem — and by far the most significant in terms of delays — is that we hit solid rock. These issues, combined with the fact that they're working in such a confined space, have caused this project to progress much more slowly than we would have liked."

Siemers said he is hopeful the most tedious portion of the project, chipping out rock, has already been completed and that the next portions will move more quickly.

"What I'm hoping is that the harder portion of it is the one that's already done — the Cherokee Hills section," he said. "So, if that's the case, we're looking at another three months to get this project wrapped up. We realize it's an inconvenience for the neighbors, but hopefully they can hang with us a little bit longer. We are making progress, so that is good news."

Luminary service planned at White Rose

Annual event set for November 20 at cemetery mausoleum

The annual White Rose Luminary Service will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the White Rose Mausoleum. The purpose of the service is to “honor and remember those we have lost," said Cemetery Coordinator Kim Inman.

"To a grieving person, the anticipation of the holidays is sometimes worse than the holidays themselves," Inman said. "A loss doesn’t necessarily have to be recent; grief can creep up at any time such as holidays and anniversaries, and often this happens even years after the death of a loved one."

Inman said Thanksgiving and Christmas can be especially challenging as those who are mourning the passing of a loved one can feel that absence in powerful ways, and it can be particularly difficult to follow through with cherished traditions.

"Many who attend our annual service have made this event part of their holiday routine — a time to spend reflecting on their lost loved one," she said. "It can be helpful just to be around others who are experiencing the same emotions."

Inman said some who attend the luminary service are further along in the grieving process and have "come to find a sense of peace in their lives," while others are experiencing the intense grief of a recent loss.

"Just knowing that a person isn’t alone in his or her grief can be very comforting," she said.

Luminaries, which consist of a small paper sack weighted down with sand and illuminated by an LED light, are placed around the halls of the White Rose Mausoleum. Each luminary has a card attached with the loved one's name and by whom they are being honored. After a service, which includes a speaker, music and reading of the names of those being remembered, guests are invited to take their luminary and place it on the grave of their loved one.

Loved ones do not have to be buried at White Rose Cemetery to have a luminary in their memory. Luminaries may be purchased for $5 each. Checks may be dropped off at the Bartlesville Public Library Local and Family History Room or mailed to Bartlesville Public Library, attn: Kim Inman, 600 S. Johnstone, Bartlesville, OK 74003. Please include the name of the person or person(s) being remembered and by whom they are being honored.

For more information, call 918.338.4070 or email whiterose@cityofbartlesville.org.

Yard debris collection planned for week of December 6-10

The City's next free residential yard debris collection will be held the week of Dec. 6-10. Residents may place their leaves, grass, lawn clippings and other yard debris at the curb in bags on their normal trash collection day for collection by Solid Waste Department crews.

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 the week of Dec. 6-10, 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.

Bartlesville Public Library to host Smoking Cessation class

The Bartlesville Public Library will host a Smoking Cessation class beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18. The class is free and open to the public and will be held in the library's upstairs meeting room, 600 S. Johnstone Ave. in downtown Bartlesville.

"We hope anyone who is interested in this topic can join us for a discussion about tobacco cessation as Melissa Tibbets from Ascension St. John Jane Phillips leads us with knowledge on this subject," said Library Literacy Coordinator Karen Kerr-McGraw. "This will be an excellent resource in learning how smoking affects health and how to discover the benefits of quitting, explore motivations for quitting, and learn about tools and programs that can help you manage the challenges of quitting."

Tibbets is a Respiratory Therapy Manager at Ascension St. John Jane Phillips. For more information, contact Kerr-McGraw at 918.338.4179.

Museum to offer evening events in November, December

The Bartlesville Area History Museum will launch its "Third Thursday" series at the museum from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 18. The series is an opportunity to provide more access to museum events and exhibits to those who might not be able to participate during the day, said BAHM Coordinator Delaney Williams.

“Life gets busy during the week,” said Williams. “It’s hard for some people to find time during the day to visit the museum. We wanted to provide time for people who cannot make it during the day to have a chance to check out the history that makes Bartlesville so interesting.”

There will be guided tours of the main gallery beginning at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. Guests are also welcome to explore the museum at their own pace — an excellent time to check out the special exhibit "Delaware: The Faces of the Lenape" before it ends on Nov. 26. The Nelson Carr One-Room Schoolhouse will also be open for visitors to explore, and light refreshments will be served.

A second Third Thursday event is planned for Dec. 17.

For more information about these or other BAHM events, contact the museum at 918.338.4290 or history@cityofbartlesville.org. The Museum is located on the fifth floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. Regular hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Director's Cut

Hoopla: BPL offers new digital media service

The Bartlesville Public Library isn't just a place to house physical forms of books and videos anymore, although it still does that, too. Located at 600 S.E. Johnstone Ave., BPL continuously updates its services and programs to meet today's ever-growing digital and technology needs. Its latest program available to the public is the digital media service Hoopla, which allows card holders to borrow items with no waiting. Library Director Shellie McGill explains the service in this week's edition of Director's Cut.

City Beat: What is Hoopla?

McGill: Hoopla, which we implemented Nov. 1, is one of the fastest-growing services that our library provides. Essentially, it allows patrons to borrow a vast array of digital items, from ebooks, comic books and audiobooks to TV shows, movies and music — there are about a million things out there that you can borrow — and never have to wait.

Is it different from digital services the library already offers?

We currently offer Overdrive and Libby for digital book reading and Freegal for music, and of course these services will continue to be available. How they differ from Hoopla is that these services are "one user at a time," and Hoopla has concurrent usage statistics so an unlimited number of people can borrow that same book or item at one time. So, with Hoopla, there is no waiting and no "holds."

Will Hoopla work on the typical digital devices?

Yes, it will. We have ebooks, which you could read on your tablet, phone or computer. You can check out audio and books and listen. There are comic books, TV, movies and music. They have a really nice, robust children's program out there also, as well as items in Spanish and other languages, so it meets that need as well.

How is the service accessed?

It's really easy and something you can stream your tablet or desktop browser or on your mobile app. You can Chromecast them, you could use Roku, or you could use Amazon Alexa. You can use your Amazon apps and your Android Auto.

Is there a time limit for borrowed items?

The usage periods are 21 days for the books, 72 hours for the videos, and a week for music.

How do you get it?

All you have to have is a library card. (If you don't already have one, you can get an online digital card without even leaving your home.) Then you can go to www.hoopladigital.com and download the app or you can use your Android device and use the app store and the Google Play store. It's as easy as putting in your email address, your library card number and your password. Then you have your account.

Is there a limit to the number of things that can be borrowed?

There is a limit of five borrows per month. We had to pick that number because we had to be able to afford it. So we may be able to increase that in the future, if we see that we have more resources available. But we think five is enough, especially for those still using Overdrive and Libby and Freegal.

Any closing thoughts?

We are excited to offer Hoopla to Bartlesville, and we truly hope everyone will love this service. It's a trendy, on-task service that we think will have applications for literally everyone who consumes digital media. We encourage everyone to try it and let us know what they think.

PSAs

COVID relief funds available for rent, utilities

If you need help with rent or utility costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, call Concern at 918.214.8945 to apply for COVID relief funds.

To qualify for 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.
Your inability to pay rent must have been due to COVID-19.
You must not claim the same assistance from any other source.

To qualify for 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.

Local health department seeks public input

The Washington County Health Department is conducting a Community Health Survey to better understand and address the healthcare needs of adults and children in the county.

Survey responses will be used to help the WCHD learn of any existing problems and will aide in determining the best programs and services for the community.

Residents of Washington County can take the survey by scanning the QR code at right with the camera app on their smartphone, or by visiting the following link: OSDH District 4 Community Health Survey 2021 through Dec. 13.

Surveys are being conducted throughout District 4 of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which includes Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Wagoner and Washington counties.

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: