New City Manager Starts July 1

Bruce L. Johnson, former assistant city manager in Dewey, begins work next week as Grove's new city manager, replacing Bill Galletly, who retired in March after 30 years in the business.
"He was the Number One choice of all five city councilmen," said Terry Ryan, who said the council had interviewed a number of really good candidates over the past few weeks.
The decision to hire Johnson was made at an emergency meeting last week. Only two days before, Johnson had accepted a city manager position with the city of Perry, but resigned when offered the Grove position. Johnson had applied for the Grove position via letter dated March 31, 2007, which was less than three weeks after the resignation of Bill Galletly and before the city began actively advertising for new applicants.
Johnson has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and a BS degree in Political Science from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo. His most recent position was city administrator in St. Clair, Mo, a city of 4,390.
Dewey's population is 3,200 and is a suburb of Bartlesville.
He served in Dewey from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2003-2006. He left there to serve a few months as assistant city manager in Bartlesville.
Mayor Joe Franco of Dewey said "he did an outstanding job in Dewey, we wish we could have kept him and pay what he deserved, he is worth every penny he will get in Grove.
"He weighs things very carefully before making decisions, does not act on a whim, and he is very good at fiscal responsibility and cash flow management," he said. Franco said that Johnson modernized the city maintenance facility and got a bond issue passed by an 85% margin, and began work on the new downtown historic district.
Annette Breshears, City Clerk in Dewey, described Johnson as laid back, not a stiff collar type, a good person, and "what you see is what you get." She said Johnson likes to learn and had lots of accomplishments during his tenure in Dewey. In his mid-30's, Johnson is married with one daughter.
Described by Ryan as a "roll up the sleeves, personable kind of manager," Johnson comes to Grove facing a city council which has described itself as a "hands-on council." A part of his Employment Agreement with the city is taken directly from a state statute which limits the authority of city council to deal directly with city employees or "participate in any manner in the appointment or removal of officers and employees of the city, or give orders on ordinary administrative matters to any subordinates of the city manager either publicly or privately."
Johnson's salary will be $105,000 per year plus a monthly car allowance of $500, with a contract for one year. He will be paid nine months salary in the event he is terminated by Council, or contract not renewed during the contract period. He also serves as General Manager of GMSA, which pays 25% of his salary. He will receive moving expenses not to exceed $4,200; three weeks per year of vacation leave with sick leave accruing at eight hours per month, and health insurance as provided city employees.
Since March, Debbie Mavity has been Acting City Manager, has lost about half her weight working 70 hours a week, and goes back to Assistant City Manager July 1. She was not interested in the City Manager position, she told Council.

The New City Budget--Behind the Numbers

After weeks of work on the 2007-08 FY city budget, City Council has given approval to a $9.7 million city budget and a $13.3 million GMSA budget, both less than what was budgeted and approved the previous year.
Councilman Terry Ryan was the lone member who voted against approval of the budget, citing "$713,000 in giveaways." Mentioned were $360,000 to GMSA, $200,000 to the new Health Care Trust Authority, and increases to the airport, Chamber of Commerce, festivals, etc. For example, he said, the Chamber budget was originally $27,000 and then out of nowhere it was increased to $35,000 with no explanation given.
This is $10,000 more than the city's pothole repair budget. Last year's Chamber budget from the city was $18,000.
"We could have done a better job on this budget. We did not do our job," he said. "We under-funded departments and gave away $713,000," Ryan said.

There were no winners this year. Every department of government failed to get what it asked for, which is not all that unusual. There are some expensive projects that are funded, such as the $1,325,000 for the Shundi Road widening project to Highway 10; $250,000 for roof repairs to the Civic Center; $280,000 for a new Cemetery at Olympus North; and $763,000 to the Downtown Redevelopment Project for streetscapes, a new traffic light at Third & Main, and storm drainage work.
GMSA did get enough money to purchase a backup generator at the intake on Honey Creek, although it had asked for two, money in the form of a $50,000 change order for a "bike path" at Harber and Leisure Road, plus $17,800. GMSA also got $20,000 for another utility rate study.
GMSA General Fund received $700,000, transferred from GMSA Capital Fund.

The city police department had requested four new officers but received funds for only one, but at a salary of only $32,000 per year.The hourly rate for several employees was increased and a new part time dispatch position was added. A lengthy laundry list of improvements was sought by Chief Ivan Devitt. There has not been an increase in officers on the Police Department in eight years, despite increases in calls for service each year.

An additional Fireman was added to the Fire Department.

City employees will get a 4% pay raise with the new budget.

The city's contingency fund will be $731,019 in the General Fund and $87,883 in the Capital Fund. GMSA's contingency General Fund is $8400 with zero in the Capital Fund.

City income is budgeted at $9.8 million, down from last year's $10.1 million; GMSA's income is budgeted at $13.7 million, down from $16.7 million last year. By law, the only sources of income for a municipality are sales taxes, fees, and utility revenues.

The total Governing Board account under the city's general fund is budgeted at $1,145,243 including the contingency fund of $731,019. Contributions to organizations total $158,625 including a grant to the Grand Lake Association of $22,000; $35,000 to the Chamber; $20,000 to Grand Lake Festivals; $10,000 to the Playmakers; $37,900 to Pelivan; $3,000 to the Shop Grove Committee; and $15,000 in membership fees to the OML, Grand Lake Association, and Grand Gateway. A donation of $9,500 is being made to the community crises Safe House and $5,000 to DOCS Services.

Expenses under the Administration account from the general fund total $336,619, most of which is salaries for city staff, $238,835. The Finance Department budget totals $68,672; Legal & Courts totals $86,447.

Police Administration took one of the biggest hits. This year's budget is $201,753, down $16,000 from actual expenses in 2005-06. However, Police Dispatch & Jail totals $292,992, up $49,000 from last year's budget; and Patrolman & K-9 is budgeted at $832,737, up $84,000 from last year's budget. The Detectives division is $135,731, up from $128,000 last year; Animal Control is $64,739, up from $57,150 last year, while EMS is $55,641, down from $59,706 last year. A budget of $140,120 is set for the Police Department from the City Capital Account for police equipment, up from $84,841 last year. Included are two new vehicles, a new DARE vehicle and a new animal control vehicle, both 4 wheel drive, at a cost of $45,820.


Fire Department is budgeted at $315,121, up from $287,000 last year, plus $16,750 from City Capital, down from $33,500 budgeted last year.

Street Maintenance budget is set at $574,707, up from $556,000 last year. Street Department budget from City Capital is $2,321,947, down from $3,368,041 budgeted last year.

Vehicle Maintenance is set at $146,036, up from $137,561 budgeted last year.

The Airport Budget from the city's General Fund is $48,096. From City Capital, $421,100, most of which is Grant money.

The new position of Planning & Zoning Director is salaried at $52,001, more than any other city employee except for the new City Manager and the Assistant City Manager.

Other department budgets include:
--Community Development, $428,994, up from $380,192.
--Buildings & Grounds, $385,087, up from $354,987. From City Capital, $622,000, up from $347,228, mostly due to the new cemetery and roof repairs on the civic center.
--City Hall, $32,100, up from $30,700.
--Golden Age Senior Center, $22,000, same as last year
--Civic Center, $102,906, up from $99,487 last year.
--Sports & Rec complex, $22,860, up from $20,740 last year.
--Grove Public Library, $14,100, down from $15,345 last year.
--Swimming Pool operations, $31,319, up from $27,401 last year.

The complete budget is available at City Hall.

Next Week: A look at GMSA's budget.

Observations...

We'll be the first to say it. Take the $1.325 million Shundi Road widening project budgeted for the upcoming year and shove it down the road a couple of years. Instead, use the money on an intensive asphalt overlay program, starting with 13th Street from Main to Shundi, Cherokee from Main to the Park, and Har-Ber Road out to Quail Run. We don't mind the two lane Shundi Road but we do mind the constant bone rattling and tire wear on Grove's main streets, many of which are falling apart...Bill Listen, one of the finest people you will ever meet, passed away Tuesday night in a Bartlesville hospital. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Grove...Don't forget about Grove's big fireworks and entertainment show, which begins Tuesday July 3 at 6:30 p.m. with some really fine entertainment and free watermelon. Location is on 13th street at the city's recreation park...Mark July 17 on your calendars; the Blue Ribbon Committee will outline their plan for a new aquatic center and civic center at the regular City Council meeting at 6 p.m...

An Editorial...Campaign Politics

Never put it in writing. Rule One of political campaigns, because what you say can come home to roost. Take the recent City Council meeting where the 2007-2008 FY budget was finally approved by a vote of 4-1.

Larry Parham led the effort to deny the city Police Department's request for four additional officers, something that had not been done in eight years. He, along with Mike Davenport and Gary Trippensee, voted 3-2 to hire only one additional officer in the new budget, despite his campaign statements made prior to the April election:

"Make sure our police are properly funded and staffed so they can deal with drug problems and continue to stop crime and gang activity before it gets a foothold in Grove," Parham says on the GrovePac.org web site. Apparently something changed his mind after the election.
He also says, "Find a way to finance GMSA without the proposed huge rate increases."
Actually, the rate increase planned for June 1 wasn't huge at all, but a mere $2.06 per household for water users of 5,000 gallons or more a month.
His solution: Simply rob the city budget of $360,000 to prop up GMSA, over the objections of all five GMSA trust authority board members.

And how about this one: "I will vote and work to make road improvements a priority." A quote from Mike Davenport on the GrovePAC web site. During the final budget approvals, he voted to reduce last year's budget of $75,000 for asphalt overlays to $50,000 this year, and keep the pothole budget at only $25,000 this year. We can look forward to better roads, can't we?

Say one thing, do another. You can still read all the promises at www.grovepac.org.

Perry Running for County Commissioner Post

Janet Warford-Perry, reporter for the Miami News-Record, has announced that she will seek the post of District 2 Commissioner in Delaware County.
The filing period for the special election will be July 16-18, according to the lieutenant governor's order.
"I don't profess to know everything there is about running the business of a county, but I will try my level best to apply sound business practices and common sense to all matters that come before me," said Warford-Perry.
She went on to say that all the people of Delaware County presently face serious issues that could cost the taxpayers millions--an overcrowded jail, the federal MIDA lawsuit filed against the county two years ago and a newly proposed tax break for a development on Monkey Island in addition to a proposed county-wide hotel tax.
"District 2 doesn't need another heavy equipment operator--we have those on staff. The people need a commissioner who will research the issues at hand and work toward a sensible resolution. It also wouldn’t hurt the county to have someone on board who knows how to feed a family of four and half the neighborhood on a bag of pinto beans and a pan of cornbread,” said Warford-Perry.
Warford-Perry said as commissioner she would promise the people a county leader with an open door policy, where voter opinions were valued as well as a place where meetings and records are readily accessible to the public.
"After carefully studying the facts, I will deal with all matters that come before the commission fairly and honestly," said Warford-Perry. "I guarantee I won't be caught paving my own driveway or other corrupt practices."
First and foremost, Warford-Perry said she hopes voters will exercise their right and vote during the primary race on Aug. 14, and again in the runoff slated for Sept. 11.
Constituents can contact Warford-Perry via telephone at (918) 314-1439 or 786-3760 or via email janet@warford-perry4commish.com
In a very non-traditional move, Warford-Perry said she would post no signs to litter county roadsides or add to the landfill.
"Besides, every election there always seems to be way too much drama involved with a candidate claiming his or her signs were stolen or defaced. I don't have the time to walk down that road," Warford-Perry said.
Years ago, Lavona Webster won the mayor's post in Grove without putting out one sign, according to her daughter former Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls.
"Ms. Webster knocked on doors, greeted folks and made herself known personally to the voters. I intend to follow that same path," Warford-Perry added.
She said in lieu of signage, other marketing techniques will be utilized to promote the campaign. One example is weekly updates that will be posted on an official campaign website: www.warford-perry4commish.com

Grove Beginnings...Part 8

By Rose Stauber

In 1939 the Grove Sun editor called on the memory of one of the founders, John H. Gibson, to recount the early history of Grove. Gibson was brought here Feb. 17, 1872, by his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Harlan. They settled on a place known as the old peach orchard about two miles east of town.

Gibson named the families living on the old trail from Southwest City
to Carey's Ferry on Grand River. Gibson named Oss Harlan living near
where Dodge would be, then came Bud Fields to the southeast on the trail to Southwest City,"a town that boasted three mercantile stores."
In what became Grove, a man named Ezell, who had a family of nine
children, had built a double-log house where the cheese factory was later.

George Ward had a house north of town, and then going west was the house of Ed Carey.
"George Ward owned about 10 acres of what is now Grove, and two years
later was dispersed of by the Monroe heirs. . ." The Monroe family, as noted in an earlier article, had gone south during the Civil War. "In 1874 they returned and claimed land, and the courts returned the land to the Monroes."
"In the years of 1876 to 1880, many people came and settled on the
famous Cowskin Prairie.
"In 1889 (sic. 1888) Capt. T.S. Remsen received a permit and established the first post office in a building near the present Frisco Depot, and from then on the town of Grove started out in a big way." The depot was on the west side of Main Street and just south of Remsen Street.
John H. Gibson gives the pioneer and historian's view of early Grove.
Let's pick up the subject as told by a young woman, Lula Dale Duckworth
Jones, a Cherokee. Lula Dale had grown up in what was obviously a
cultured home. She was a graduate of the Cherokee Female Seminary and, like many of the graduates, was teaching school. She had met and married W.I. Jones from Illinois. The Joneses came to Grove and W.I. and partners started a store.
Lula recalls earlier going through Grove with her father. "At the
east edge of the little community, he would say, "Here is Doughertyville" – an unpainted frame building, was the store." "Then we would drive a short way through trees and bushes and native vines and came to another building, my father said, "Remsenville," beyond that the third building was "Gibsonville."

"When Mr. Jones and I went to see about a building for a store and a
house in which to live, things were already stirring. We stopped at the Mayes Hotel, a rather pretentious building, homey, with eight or nine bedrooms, an office, a dining room and what we appreciated most, good home cooked food. No houses were for rent. There were a few homes,
Doherty's, Remsen's, Gibson's, and farm homes near enough for the springs along the branch to supply them with water. Some people I remember were Dr. Holland, Jim Holland, a Mr. Beattey or Batie, Aunt Jane Longmire, Aunt Letha Tablor and more."

"We paid a man to vacate a little house on the hill above the main
Grove Spring. The house was about half way between the top and the bottom of the hill. Instead of a high foundation in front to level the house, it was set in an excavation letting the kitchen down until the lower half of window was below the surface." If the reader will go north of the American Legion building and look down the hill, you get an idea of what the hill would be like walking on a rough path.

Lula writes: "The street was steep, the few board walks were lifted
from one level to another by steps. There was in the street a little to the west of us, a large pile of stones. We drove on each side of this as one would a boulevard."

Lula's account reports the growth of Grove. "A frame hotel or
boarding house had been built up the hill south of our new location. That day while we were moving, this rooming house, being operated by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Buzzard, burned. No water, but we did have a telephone system, built by a Mr. Boogher. We had a phone in our new house and one at the new store, number 3 at the store."

"Gus Ivy and John Gibson had started a little newspaper."

In 1903 the Jones' moved out of the incorporated area to Lula's
allotment and built a home and farm there. The house still stands. Go to the intersection of Center and 10th Street and look south to what would be a continuation of Center Street. The big, old house is still imposing looking . Lula ran a farm and garden while her husband was a traveling salesman. The road into town from the south came by the property.

Grove Springs was the attraction for the trail and then the town.
The Oct. 7, 1904, Grove Sun carried this letter from a reader:
Town Officials. Please investigate the public spring. The surrounding
has become a nuisance in our opinion to the health of the people in this part of the town and we might say to all the people in town as they all use the water, more or less. It is being used as a hog wallow for stock shippers and a stamping ground for the town cattle, which creates a stench that is very disagreeable, and when a heavy rain comes all this filth is washed by the water from "Give-a-dam river" back into the spring."

For readers who want to read more of the articles used in this column,
John H. Gibson's interview is from the Dec. 28, 1939, Grove Sun, and
available on microfilm at the Grove Public Library.
Lula Dale Jones' article begins on page 170 of "Heritage of the Hills,
A Delaware County History." We thank the Delaware County Historical
Society for permission to quote from the article. Copies of the book are available for sale at the Grove Library and at the Historical Society Museum in Jay.

Copyright © 2007 Rose Stauber

A Matter of Faith...

By Carol Round

Monsters Under the Bed

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:39-41(NIV)
As a child I was afraid of the dark.

I never knew the source of my fear or how old I was when my fear led to a nightly ritual of looking under the bed and in the closet before I would crawl beneath the covers. I still wouldn’t go to sleep without a night light to illuminate a small corner of my bedroom.

For years, my parents tried unsuccessfully to allay my fears of the dark. I remember waking at night and peeking out from under the sheets to see if any mysterious shadows were cast on the wall that was softly lit by the tiny light plugged into the outlet. With my little heart beating faster and faster, I lay petrified while the shadows became monsters the size of prehistoric animals.

Finally, when I could not contain my fear, I’d yell for my mother—sometimes at two or three in the morning—to ask for a drink of water. When my mother turned on the hall light, I could see that the monsters of my imagination were merely harmless moths or other night creatures.

I don’t remember how many years this ritual continued, but I know my mother must have had the patience of Job to get up during the nights that I called for a drink of water simply to ease a child’s fear of the dark.

As adults, we have fears of a different kind. Although we are no longer afraid of things that go bump in the night, we let other fears paralyze us and keep us from making choices—choices that could improve our lives or the lives of others.

Now, overcoming my fear of the dark seems easy compared to the apprehension I first felt when I let God lead me in a new direction several years ago. After teaching for 30 years in the same school system, I left a secure job and moved to a new community. It was faith that helped me overcome that fear of the unknown.

Fear of the unknown can keep us from taking that first step toward leaving a job and seeking another when we are unhappy or unfulfilled. Fear can stop us in our tracks when God calls us to serve Him in a different way and we don’t want to leave our comfort zone.

I like Pastor Andy Stanley’s statement about fear. “Fear,” he says, “can drive you places you never intended to go.”

Where is fear driving you? When we place our trust in the Lord, we have nothing to fear. His light will guide us from the darkness.

Cajun Festival Set for July 4

On July 4 Grand Lake Festivals will host its 11th annual Arts, Crafts, Music and Cajun Festival in the air-conditioned comfort of the Grove Civic Center. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4 the doors will open for a fun-filled day of wonderful arts and crafts booths, delicious Cajun food and entertainment throughout the day. Admission is free to the public. The food court will offer tasty Cajun food at affordable prices—come early and spend the day enjoying the delicious food, wonderful entertainment and shopping with our most talented arts & crafts vendors.

Louisiana’s hottest Cajun band, "Bayou Roots" will entertainment along with Jana Jae and Hotwire throughout the day on July 4th. Bayou Roots, along with bandleader, Chris Miller from Lake Charles, LA take their audience back to the musical roots of early Creole "la-la" music and stretches forward toward the more modern sounds of Zydeco with a bluesy chromatic accordian and saxophone speaking the language of swamp-pop. Miller and Bayou Roots were recently named Band of the Year, Best CD of the Year and won the People’s Choice Award at the 18th Annual Le Cajun Music Awards.


Jana Jae, international touring star and founder of Grand Lake Festivals, Inc. and her own exciting band, Hotwire, will also go CAJUN. Their diverse musical styles blends country fiddling, western swing, pop and the classics producing exciting entertainment and thrilling an audience of all ages. They, along with Bayou Roots and others will be performing on July 4 from 10 to 5 in the air-conditioned comfort of the Grove Civic Center.

Arts, crafts and food vendors will be participating assuring everyone of a choice that will suit them, from beautifully hand crafted jewelry to Native American art, along with some of their favorite Cajun dishes such as shrimp and crawfish jambalaya, sausage gumbo and Cajun corn on the cob. More traditional foods will also be available.

The Arts, Crafts, Music & Cajun Festival has proven to be successful and has become a major event in the Grand Lake area. This event devoted to good family entertainment is hosted by the non-profit organization, Grand Lake Festivals, Inc. with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Local and area sponsors of this event include: The City of Grove, Cherokee Nation, ConocoPhillips, Thompson & Associates, Air Power Systems, Grand Savings Bank, Dairy Queen, First National Bank, Wal-Mart, Grand Bank, Bank of Grove, Best Western TimberRidge Inn,

First Class Collision and Limo Service, Grand River Abstract, Arvest Bank, Gallery Southwest, Snider’s Camp, Drake’s Restaurant, Lungren Chevrolet, Prairie Breeze, Ltd., Grand Rental Station, Jack’s Music Shack, Cathy Shaefer of Thompson & Associates, Richard & Dolores Graham Family, Dolphus & Mozelle Blevins, Gene & Shirley Sawyer, Java Dave’s, The Urban Table in Fayetteville, Arkansas, KGVE, The Grove Sun, The Grove Observer and Nowata Printing

Ryan Resigns from GIDA Board

Councilman Terry Ryan has resigned from the Grove Industrial Development Authority Board effective July 1, 2007, due to time restraints while serving on other city boards.
City Council refused to give GIDA any funds to purchase real estate for future industrial development, and has taken away GIDA's role in providing funds for various city causes such as the Chamber of Commerce, Fiddle Festival, GroveFest, and others. GIDA's role has been reduced to one of approving waivers on fee rentals at the Civic Center. The board is made up mostly of ex councilmen.

July 4 Lake Rules Revisited

With the July 4th holiday quickly approaching, the Grand River Dam Authority Lake Patrol would like to remind all boaters of that following rules that apply in the Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake:
• Beginning Tuesday, July 3, at sunset, all watercraft in Duck Creek must operate at slow speed, minimum wake, round-the-clock (all day, all night), until sunrise on Thursday, July 5, when the area will return to the normal rules, as follows:
• All watercraft legally trailerable (8.5 feet in width or less) and/or watercraft 30 feet or less in length, shall operate at a planing speed not to exceed 30 MPH. Boats must be up on plane or go slow, producing minimum wake.
• All other watercraft shall operate at slow speed, producing minimum wake.
• All watercraft must stay to the right of the buoys and at least 150 feet away from docks and shore.
• May 1 through October 30, a no-wake zone shall be in effect each night between sunset and sunrise.
The Lake Patrol would also like to remind boaters of the ongoing life jacket awareness campaign. While patrolling Grand and Hudson lakes this summer, patrolmen will be handing out tshirts to boaters who are "caught" wearing their life jackets. The campaign is designed to promote life jacket safety and remind boaters that “there’s no reason not to wear it.”The patrol urges boaters to practice safe and responsible boating, always wear your life jacket, and be alert and aware while on the water. Simple steps like these can save your life as well as the lives of the people boating with you.
For more information on GRDA lake rules, regulations and water safety, visit www.grda.com, or contact the GRDA Lake Patrol at (918) 782-9594.

Tribe Seeks Restraining Order

The Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma is seeking a restraining order barring an attempt by the tribe’s Secretary Treasurer to seize control of the tribe’s bank accounts. The tribe is also seeking damages against the individuals responsible for the allegedly illegal actions, according to a news release from the tribe.

“This is an unfortunate situation involving a few disgruntled members whose candidates recently lost a tribal election by a large margin and are now seeking to grab power by any means. The illegal actions of these few are creating great hardship for the entire tribe, especially for the 50 plus employees who are without jobs due to their desperate actions,” said Chief Paul Spicer.

Without free access to its accounts, the tribe is unable to buy raw material for its tobacco factory, which was forced to close Tuesday. Other tribal operations, including the tribe’s Grand Lake Casino, remain open for business.
“This is only the latest in a series of actions by the losing side in our recent elections to disrupt the duly elected government and its operations,” said Spicer. “We will not tolerate their attempts to override the clearly expressed desires of the majority of our people.” Spicer was elected to a second two-year term as Chief by a nearly 2 to 1 margin over his nearest opponent in a June 2nd tribal wide election.

The Seneca-Cayuga Tribe consists of approximately 4,400 members, about half of whom reside in Delaware and Ottawa Counties in Northeast Oklahoma. Tribal headquarters are in Miami, Oklahoma.