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City Beat
Your city, your news
October 19, 2021
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Welcome to City Beat, a free weekly e-newsletter containing the latest news and information about the City of Bartlesville and related topics. Get yours delivered each week! http://bit.ly/2eaFETx
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City, IAFF reach agreement for fire contract
City Council to consider approval during Friday meeting
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Following several months of negotiation, the City of Bartlesville and International Association of Fire Fighters have reached a tentative agreement for a 2021-22 Fiscal Year contract, City Manager Mike Bailey said today.
The agreement is subject to final approval from the City Council, which is expected to consider the matter during a special meeting set for noon on Friday, Oct. 22.
Though negotiations for the current fiscal year contract began months ago, talks had stalled over the summer due to three points of contention between the parties: the department's promotional process for management-level positions, the "Me Too" clause, which essentially requires that any compensation or benefit given to any City employee must also be given to firefighters, and salary adjustments.
Under the terms of the new one-year agreement:
- The “Me Too” clause will be removed
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All eligible candidates for leadership positions will be considered (Previously only the five most senior candidates could be tested)
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Pay increases of 11.5 percent will be granted to the ranks for Firefighter, Driver, Captain, and Battalion Chief (The City had previously offered 11.5 percent for Firefighter and 6.5 percent for Driver, Captain, and Battalion Chief, while the Union had originally requested 11.5 percent for Firefighter, 14 percent for Driver, and 13.5 percent for Captain and Battalion Chief.)
"The City entered this year’s negotiations with three main goals: to bring the pay of our departments above that of our peer cities, to increase the pool of applicants that can be considered for leadership positions, and to remove the “Me Too” clause from all contracts so that we can negotiate with each employee group in a manner that best suits their needs," said Bailey.
"We were completely successful in our goals of revamping our promotional system for leadership positions and removing the 'Me Too' clause. As for pay, the City was primarily focused on ensuring that our entry level positions, such as Firefighter, were paid at a high enough level to attract and retain the talent we need for the future of our organization. So it was critical that we keep the Firefighter level of pay increases high enough to accomplish that. We’re grateful that the Union saw the value in this approach as well."
If the council votes to approve the agreement on Friday, the terms will be retroactive to the beginning of the current fiscal year, July 1, 2021. Negotiations for a 2022-23 Fiscal Year contract will begin next spring.
The council meeting will be held in in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., and live-streamed on the City’s website, at www.city.ofbartlesville.org. The public is invited to attend.
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Replenysh to offer local recycling options
Company to hold 1st event Saturday at Lee Lake parking lot
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Recycling in Bartlesville all but ground to a halt this year after a fire closed the Tulsa Recycle and Transfer Center facility in April. With no place to take the items dropped off at the City of Bartlesville-owned recycle center, located on 10th Street east of Virginia Avenue, the City was forced to close the center until TRT reopened or a recycling alternative could be found.
That alternative appears to have arrived recently in the form of a California-based company, aptly named "Replenysh."
On a mission "to eliminate landfills and ocean pollution by turning every used material into nutrients for tomorrow's creations," Replenysh is hoping to establish "host sites" in Bartlesville for public and private recycling events, creating a win-win situation for both the company and local residents who want to recycle.
"We are thrilled to be welcomed into the Bartlesville community," said Replenysh CEO Mark Armen. "The used materials from your community are in great demand from manufacturers and brands across the US, and our tools will help Bartlesville mobilize, collect and monetize these materials in a new way. Our long-term goal in Bartlesville is to help the community thrive by monetizing materials, not burying or burning them — and potentially attracting industry to reprocess materials locally."
The City of Bartlesville has agreed to serve as the first host site, supporting the company in holding its first public even in Bartlesville at the City-owned Lee Lake Complex, 2700 S.E. Adams Blvd., this Saturday. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot area just off Adams Boulevard.
Accepted materials at the event are:
- Plastic PET #1 containers
- Plastic PET #1 thermoforms
- Plastic HDPE #2 containers
- Aluminum Cans
- Steel Cans
- Cardboard*
- Glass Bottles
While the City will officially serve as the first public host site for the company's recycling events, anyone with space can become a Replenysh host and collect materials, whether from the public or a select group such as staff or students. Members can use the Replenysh app to find nearby host locations and drop off their material, which must be separated by type. The material is picked up and sent directly to brands who will reuse the material in new products.
For those wondering if the City's recycle center at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue will reopen now that there's another plan underway, the answer is yes — though the operation may look a little different.
"We are planning to reopen the recycle center in some fashion to serve as a permanent host site for Replenysh to collect and transfer recyclable materials," said City Manager Mike Bailey. "We are working out the details of how that might look, and certainly we will publicize those as soon as the information is available."
*Cardboard is the only fiber accepted at the Oct. 23 event. While paper will not be accepted at this event, the company hopes to accept it in the future.
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Splash pads winterized, closed until next season
The City-owned splash pads have been winterized and are closed for the season, Parks Superintendent Bobby Robinson said last week.
"Splash pads at Johnstone and Sooner parks and Unity Square have been winterized for the upcoming cold season," Robinson said Friday. "They will reopen next spring, once we begin to consistently experience warmer temperatures."
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VB accepting submissions for Visitor Guide
Annual Visit Bartlesville publication resource for locals, visitors
Visit Bartlesville, Bartlesville’s destination marketing organization, is asking attractions, events, restaurants and retailers to submit their information for the 2022 Bartlesville Visitor Guide. The Bartlesville Visitor Guide is printed every year as a resource for visitors and residents alike. Potential visitors can also digitally review the guide at www.visitbartlesville.com.
The Visit Bartlesville staff will reach out to area tourism partners in the coming weeks. Tourism stakeholders are invited to send in their information for listing in the guide and the website. The guide is distributed at regional attractions, hotels and retailers as well as visitor information centers throughout northeast Oklahoma.
“The Visitor Guide helps us give detailed information on all there is to experience in Bartlesville,” said Maria Swindell Gus, executive director of Visit Bartlesville. “We have so much to see and do here — so many new retailers we know our visitors would love to explore. We are eager to welcome even more travelers to the area in 2022.”
Information courtesy of Visit Bartlesville
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Hudson Lake duck blind drawings to be held Friday
Drawings for 10 duck blind areas at Hudson Lake will be held at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22.
The drawings will be held at the boat ramp. The fee is $10 if drawn. Any leftover blinds can be purchased at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., on a first come, first served basis.
Each duck hunter assigned a blind area must make all repairs or improvements to their blinds. No more than 30 decoys may be used at any blind area.
During duck hunting season hunters may enter Hudson Lake one hour before shooting time, which is one-half hour before sunrise. Duck hunting ends daily at noon.
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Yard debris collection planned for week of December 6-10
The City's next free residential yard debris collection 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.
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Landfill coupons available at City Hall; BLiNG Glamour on the way
By Kelli Williams
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Can landfill coupons be acquired anytime?
Coupons permitting a free trip to Osage Landfill are mailed to City of Bartlesville utility customers in February/March each year. If you did not receive your coupon or have lost it, you can obtain one at the cashiers station on the first floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The coupon is good for one free trip to the landfill anytime before Dec. 31. Only residential accounts are eligible; no commercial accounts or contractors are permitted. One coupon is issued per customer and may not be duplicated.
The coupon is part of the City's "Clean-up" campaign and is intended to help residents dispose of items typically too large or cumbersome for weekly trash collection. Residents may take their items to Osage Landfill during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
What's going in there?
Is something going in at Silver Lake Village between the Verizon Wireless store and Sally's Beauty?
The space, 2321 S. Adams Blvd., is being made ready for BLiNG Glamour, according to the Community Development Department. Plans for the remodel to make way for the store are in the planning review stage. |
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Gary Young is EAC Employee of the Month |
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Water Utilities Service Representative Gary Young has been named Employee of the Month for October by the City Employee Advisory Committee.
The EAC consists of City employees who meet regularly to discuss and identify needs for City employees who are not represented by a bargaining agent.
Young was selected for the honor after local resident Janice Blanton reported an interaction she had with Young last month.
"I posted a photo on social media of a large hole I found in my yard under some pavers," Blanton wrote in a letter submitted to the City Sept. 17. "I was asking others in the group what it was for and if I could safely fill it in. The next evening, I received a message from Gary saying that the city water utilities are often called to check out these situations. He gave me the number to call.
"I called the number the next day and requested someone to come out. Gary was sent out that very same day and confirmed it was an old water shutoff and I could safely fill it in.
"I appreciate him taking the time to message me in the evening and the promptness of the city in responding. It enabled me to make my yard much safer for myself and the next homeowner."
Employees of the Month receive a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant, $25 in Chamber Bucks and eight hours of special vacation pay.
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City Manager Mike Bailey, right, presents Water Utilities Service Representative Gary Young with Chamber Bucks and a $25 Hideaway Pizza certificate. Young was named Employee of the Month for October by the Employee Advisory Committee. |
Do you know a City of Bartlesville employee who deserves special recognition? Let the EAC know! Email your information to EAC@cityofbartlesville.org. |
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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 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:
- Two openings on the Ambulance Commission
- One opening on the Board of Adjustment
- One opening on Visit Bartlesville
- One opening on the Construction and Fire Code Appeals Board
- Two openings on the White Rose Cemetery Board
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Job Listing
The City of Bartlesville is currently accepting applications for the following positions:
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Kelli Williams, Editor
401 S. Johnstone Ave.
Bartlesville, OK 74003
918-338-4132
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