City Council Votes 18th Street Project

The Grove City Council, by a 4-1 vote, approved a bid of $2,222,507 from APAC Construction for the building of 18th Street from Sumac to Shundi Road, and widening of Shundi to 9th Street.
The bid was higher than expected due to rapidly rising costs for asphalt, cement and fuel, with no relief in sight for the coming year. This produced a shortfall of $513,507 in available funds for the project.
At the recommendation of City Manager Bill Galletly, the shortfall was covered by eliminating the sidewalk-bike path $161,143); transfer of funds from the Chopper Heights drainage project $100,000); transfer of funds from St. Park/Broadway project ($73,000); savings of Phase II engineering fee ($75,000); and using surplus capital funds of $104,364.
Extensive discussion was held concerning using the City Maintenance Crew to build the project and numerous reasons were given as to why this would not work.
On the vote, only Larry Parham voted against the project to be built by an outside firm.
Bid is expected to be awarded shortly.
The road will be two lanes from Sumac to Shundi, and three lanes from that intersection down to 9th street.
Council also voted to advertise for appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, GMSA, and GIDA, and approved David Adzigian as appointee to the Grove Municipal Airport Authority.
Council went into executive session and after coming out, announced that the city's offer to Earl Shero in Case CV-2005-242 was for Shero to drop his case and request for attorneys fees, and the city would do the same. Council approved 5-0. In the event this fails they authorized the city attorney to respond to any adverse action resulting from the lawsuit, which was also approved 5-0.
A request to provide Errors and Omissions Insurance for the Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority and City Council was voted down 3-2; then Council voted 5-0 to authorize the insurance with the city and Airport authority paying 50/50 share each. Cost is $6,300 per year.
This will cover members of both groups on airport related matters.
Council also approved lot split plats in Patricia Island Estates and agreed to annex into the city 60 acres of property owned by Tommy C. and Janey P. Gray.

GMSA Ok's Utility Relocation Package

The Grove Municipal Services Authority this week approved 5-0 a plan to finance utility re-location for the Highway 59 widening project via a $4 million loan from Bank of America at 3.99% interest, maturing Sept. 20, 2020. The note will be re-paid from utility revenues and secured by one percent sales tax monies. It will be administered by the local Bank of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will reimburse the city about $2 million, making the total project cost around $6.5 million. The city will also contribute about $775,000. The city must have actual monies on hand in order to be reimbursed by ODOT. Actual work should start sometime in October, pending all right-of -way acquisition.
A second water tower and 16-inch water line from the existing elementary school standpipe to US 59 will be built as well, along with three lift stations.
The financing package was approved 5-0 by the City Council at Tuesday evening's meeting.
Bid packets were sent out to 12 financial institutions by Municipal Finance Services, Inc. with a hoped-for interest rate of 4.25%; Bank of Oklahoma bid 4.11% but no local banks bid on the project as they could not guarantee a fixed interest rate for 15 years.
In other action, GMSA:
--Approved purchase of a GeoXT Trimble for the city's 911 coordinator not to exceed $4,784, with staff continuing to search for a lower-priced GPS mapping unit. This will be a second unit, a demo, saving $2,851 over a new unit. It will locate all GMSA utilities by GPS.
--Approved payment of a bill for sludge removal expenses.

"Strut Your Mutt" is Saturday, Oct. 1

It's time to Strut Your Mutt, Grove's annual Dog Walk, on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Community Center. The event is sponsored by the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake, Inc.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and contests start at 9 a.m. The Dog Walk will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and proceed south on Grand to 11th Street, west on 11th to Broadway, north on Broadway to 10th, west on 10th to Spring, north on Spring to 4th, east on 4th to Grand, and back to the Community Center parking lot. Total route is 1.2 miles.
All humans must be tethered to their dogs.
Entry forms are available at the Humane Society east of town on Highway 10, or at IBC Bank, Century 21 Rinker Agency, Doggie-Do, Jack Forrest Realty and Raggedy's.
Registration fee for adults is $10 and children under 17 fee is $5.
Each entry will receive a free t-shirt. More information: 786-7630.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

What I want to know is, why do they drain the lake down to sow millet seed to encourage ducks to come around, and then have hunters go out in the Fall and shoot them down?

Otherwise, it has been a good week.

Here are some of my pet peeves about humans:

Don't yell at me for barking...I'm a dog!

Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is it anyway?

Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you are not at home.

The slight of hand..fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! What a proud and great moment for the top of the food chain.

Taking me to the vet for shots and then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back there.

Getting upset when I sniff your guests parts. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered the handshake thing yet.

Dog sweaters. Have you noticed my fur? Give me a break.

So I leave you with this thought: The dog never gets listed on the census questionnaire as "primary resident," even if it's true. Until next time, Miss Missy.

New Grove Post Office Opens...at Last

Grove's new post office is open, after nearly two months delay over construction issues with the Americans with Disabilities act.
Hours are Mon-Fri from 9-4:30 and Saturdays from 9-10:30 a.m. The lobby is open 24 hours a day and has an automated postage stamp machine.
All postal boxes are now under one roof, totaling 2480. A private drive has been built for postal dropoffs via automobile so as to not interfere with parking lot traffic.
The new post office has the same number of manned stations as the old office, three, with usually all three manned during busy hours. The new post office cost $1.7 million and is located at 1200 S Shundi.

Will Rita Repeat 1943?

Longtime residents of the area and the weather bureau recall what happened in May, 1943, when it rained for nine days, dropping as much as 26 inches of rain north of Miami and 19 inches throughout the Grand Lake watershed.
It was too early for hurricane season, but apparently a low-pressure area stalled over the four states.
Grand Lake filled to 757 with water actually going over the arches. Every flood gate was opened and water below the dam came seven feet high on the power house. The entire area below the dam was flooded, as the water would not run off fast enough.
This was the all-time high water mark for Grand Lake.
Current forecasts have Hurricane Rita coming across Texas, through Dallas and into Oklahoma curving right over Grove sometime Monday. Will this be another weather event like 1943?
Stay tuned. (Update: Rita went elsewhere and not a drop of rain fell this time)

Shero vs Grove Suit Continues

It all started over "the packet," or backup information given to city council and others prior to each council meeting. Grove Resident Earl Shero and at that time an employee of Grand Savings Bank, was denied access to the packet so he filed suit against the city.
Later in May of this year, Shero filed suit against the city of Grove after he was refused a copy of the tape recording from the March 15, 2004 city council meeting.
However, the city says no such recording exists, as recordings were at that time routinely overtaped and used again and again, rather than using fresh individual meeting tapes.
This week, council voted on a motion that if Shero would drop his lawsuit against the city and pay his attorney fees, the city would pay its attorney fees, for the suit over tape recordings.
This fell apart Wednesday when Shero refused the offer.
District Judge Barry Denney said he would make a decision on this case within three weeks after Oct. 20.
Shero also has a separate case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court where he asks the court to decide whether or not an employer can terminate an employee for seeking information and asking questions of government.

This Week's Restaurant Review

By Sam L. Smithers
Chief Restaurant Reviewer

This week we took a trip down I-44 to Tulsa, home of many fine restaurants, including our choice for the evening, P.F. Chang's, which bills itself as a China Bistro. It was Tuesday and we arrived about a quarter to six and had our choice of tables. But within 30 minutes the place had filled completely to the walls.
The concept here is that everyone orders something different, from an extensive selection of entrees, it is all placed in the middle of the table and everyone shares in the different foods.
That works, except for the one person that orders something that no one else wants.
Our food quickly cooled, as the room air conditioning was blasting away on this hot afternoon.
Our server made quite a production out of the tray of sauces and liquids that she mixed at the table, but we soon found out that the hot chinese mustard was loaded with a sinus declogger.
Portions were not over large, but adequate. We sampled the sweet and sour chicken, brown rice and chicken, lamb, and chicken and broccoli. The restaurant also offers a variety of duck and beef items as well.
Prices are in the $9-12 per entree range.
And like they say with Chinese food, we were hungry by 8 p.m. A repeat visit is in order.

Here's Why you Should Vote Yes

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE
VOTE YES!
SCHOOL BOND ISSUE
OCTOBER 11, 2006
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR KIDS
When? October 11, 2005
Where? Regular polling places in the Grove School District
What time? 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How much? $7.4 million
Why do we need this Money?
GROWTH. Grove is one of the fastest growing communities in the State and we fully expect that growth to continue. Our schools are overloaded and unable to accommodate further growth.
SPACE. The elementary school is busting at the seams. Lower elementary has resorted to portables. Children are being turned away from the Pre-K program because of limited space.
SAFETY. Portable buildings have been a temporary fix, but they lack security and restrooms.
LUNCH ON THE GO. Small cafeteria makes for short lunches. 20 minutes per class equals stand in line, get tray, find seat, eat fast, line up and leave. Some lunches are served as early as 10:30 and as late as 1:00.
WE HAVE SIMPLY,
OUTGROWN OUR HOME!
How will the bond money be used?
New Early Childhood Center
36,430 sq. ft. new facility that will have 20 classrooms for Pre-K and Kindergarten children.
Media Center with Computer Lab and Audio/Visual room.
Cafeteria with full service kitchen and seating for 200 students.
The Cafeteria will also function as a Multi-Purpose/Assembly area complete with a stage.
Administration Area included reception and offices.
Teachers’ workroom.
The new Early Childhood Center will allow us to move all of the preschool and kindergarten children into a new, separate facility. This will free space for the 1st – 3rd grades at the current lower elementary site. Allowing enough room inside to eliminate the portable facilities at this site.
Upper Elementary Addition (4th & 5th grades)
15,950 sq. ft. addition.
Completed Upper Elementary School will include 20 classrooms, 2 special Education rooms, Computer Lab, Media center, and support areas.
Addition included 10 classrooms.
New large Computer Lab.
New entrance including Administration Area with reception and offices.
New teachers’ workroom.
Middle School Cafeteria Addition
The Middle School Cafeteria actually serves the 4th – 8th grades. Space is tight, only serving 150 children at one time. The current student center is used as a back-up dining facility. The addition provided by the bond will do the following:
6,195 sq. ft. addition and 3,823 sq. ft. renovation.
Expanded seating for 400 students.
New cooking and serving areas.
New storage to accommodate District’s needs.
New restrooms.
Please Vote Yes on the School Bond Issue

Shangri-La Holds Women's Championship

Shangri La Women's Golf Association held its club championship this week.

Winners: Championship Flight:
Champion: Barbara Patrick
Medalist: Barbara Perrin
Low Putts: Barbara Patrick

A Flight: Low Gross: Jackie Wilcox
First Low Net: Shari Hanson
Second Low Net: Judy Kemper
Low Putts: Deanna Phillips

9 Hole Flight: Low Gross: Becki Harris
First Low Net: Jana Kimball
Second Low Net: Carol Hudson
Low Putts: Becki Harris
...from correspondant Shirley Daggett