Council Has Quick, Routine Meeting

The Grove City Council meeting this week was quick and routine, with councilors approving a new appointee to the Grove Industrial Development Authority Board, dissolving the Blue Ribbon Committee which assisted council on the new aquatic park and civic center project, and approval of closing 18th Street from Broadway to Main for REC Day Sept. 15.

Don Nelson of Grove was appointed by council to GIDA; he spent 35 years with SBC and eight years with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. There were a total of four persons that applied for the open position, which fills the spot left by the resignation of Terry Ryan last month.

At the request of the Blue Ribbon Committee, it was dissolved with the thanks of the council, having completed its work on a new swimming pool and new community center to replace the old Civic Center on Main Street. The committee recommended the building of a "no-frills" pool costing about $3 million; and purchasing the Cornerstone Church with additions, and selling the old Civic Center.
(see related story..."After the Blue Ribbon Committee.")

Council also approved Grand Gateway's proposal to relocate the Pelivan Transit Dispatch Center to the Grove Senior Citizen's Center at 145 East O'Daniel Parkway.

Councilman Terry Ryan brought up the fact that former police chief Ivan Devitt's severance check did not come before Council, similar to the moving expenses being paid by the city for the new Planning & Zoning Director, an issue which was questionned by Council at one of its meetings noting the authority of the city manager, at that time Bill Galletly, to write checks without council approval.
Ryan said it was unfair to complain about one check, and not another, depending on who the city manager was at the time.