Staff Attorney Sought by Council

Unable to agree on the selection of a City Attorney, Grove City Councilors have approved a motion to seek a full-time attorney to work on staff at City Hall, 40 hours a week. Action came at Tuesday night's regular Council meeting following a one hour executive session. The vote was 4-0 with councilor Gary Trippensee absent.

Grove has been without a City Attorney since Aug. 21, when Ron Cates resigned after learning the city was to issue Request for Proposals to law firms. Cates said he did not know that he was being replaced until the council Agenda came out a few days prior to the meeting.

Five law firms responded to the RFP and it is believed Council narrowed down the list to two firms, Logan and Lowry of Grove, and the Hartley Law firm of Vinita. Council voted 3-2 to reject Hartley at the Sept. 18 open council meeting.

Councilor Mike Davenport made the motion Tuesday night to hire a full time attorney on staff. Wednesday, he said there are several advantages.

"It makes more sense, in that any trust authority board member who needs a legal opinion on an issue can ask the attorney directly. We have plenty of work to keep him busy…the city ordinances need updating, and he can help with planning and zoning issues. We will be dealing with one single attorney, not a firm that could send a different lawyer to our council meetings every two weeks. The attorney will be guaranteed a salary and benefits and not have to worry about ups and downs in income. I think we will get some good applicants but in the event this does not work out we can always go back to the proposals already received. Let's give this a chance," he said.

Davenport also noted that he visited in person with Jot Hartley and came away impressed with his background.

Councilman Terry Ryan said he supported Davenport's motion and hoped the city would get a number of good applicants.

There are 457 towns and cities that are members of the Oklahoma Municipal League and it is known that two, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, have full time attorneys on staff, both in the six figure salary bracket. Attorneys for most small cities are employed on the basis of need, paying only for services rendered on an hourly or monthly retainer basis.

Previous Grove city attorneys were hired by the City Manager, following a state statute, Title 11 Section 10-119, which requires cities to have a "department of law headed by a city attorney," and Title 11 Section 10-113 and Grove City Ordinance 2-302 "the city manager shall appoint…all heads of administrative departments…except as otherwise provided by law."

However, City Ordinance 2-501 states that the city attorney shall be "appointed by the city council for a one-year term and removable by the council."

Title 11 Section 14-101 then follows up by stating "the municipal governing body may enact ordinances, rules and regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of Oklahoma…"

One could argue that the "not inconsistent" phrase takes the hiring matter away from City Council and awards it to the City Manager. In fact, three previous city attorneys have stated that the City Attorney position reports directly to the City Manager, not Council.

Currently, only the City Manager and City Treasurer report directly to the Grove City Council, per state statute.

Mayor Appoints Two to P&Z Board

Larry Sadler and Rollie Cornelson of Grove were appointed to the Grove Planning and Zoning Board by Mayor Gary Bishop at Tuesday night's regular Council meeting.
Sadler previously served six years on the P&Z board and served on the Grove City Council until the 2004 election, when he was defeated by Dave Helms.

Cornelson has lived in Grove nine years and has been involved in the construction of four homes. Before retirement he worked for the Beech Aircraft Corporation and has a multi-engine instrument rating from the FAA.

Other applicants included Jason Pickett and Jim Simmons.

The appointments fill vacancies created by the resignation of Norma Halterman and the retirement of Bettie Kardos-Bishop.

Councilman Terry Ryan noted that several new people have come forward to make applications and he would like to see that trend in appointments continued in the future. "We need new blood in city government," he said, but then voted for Sadler. Mayor Bishop said "your comments have been duly noted."

Council Honors Former Mayor, Discusses SMP Plan

Former Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls was honored with an appreciation plaque at Tuesday night's council meeting, presented by Mayor Gary Bishop. Nuckolls was cited for her 18 years of service to the city as Mayor, and service on the City Council, GIDA, and GMSA boards.

Council also approved a resolution requesting GRDA classify all water front adjacent to the city limits as a "responsible growth" area in the final version of the Shoreline Management Plan being developed for GRDA Board and FERC approvals.

Council also approved the low bid of $32,315 to Traffic & Lighting Systems LLC for purchase of a traffic light sensor system at Third & Main, which had been budgeted at $30,000.

Honored as Employee of the Month was Steve Brewer who has worked for the city for 21 years and currently serves as the Utility Line Locator for GMSA.

Vintage Car Rally Comes to Grove

This weekend the Vintage Car Rally Association is holding its regional time, speed and distance rally around the Grand Lake region. They will be beginning from the Stonebrook Inn, Hwy 59 North in Grove on Friday at 12:30 pm for their first TSD, at 7:30 am Saturday and at 7:30 am Sunday. In order to qualify, the vehicles must be 1948 and earlier vintage.

This rally is a fund raiser for Autism research, drivers have a chance to win $10,000 in prize money. On Saturday they will all be assembled at the Route 66 Packard Museum located in Afton for dinner. If you would like additional information you can contact Rex Gardner at 918-786-1950 or call the Grand Lake Association at 918-786-2289.

Rotary District Governor Here Oct. 17

Dr. Ellis Potter, District Governor of Rotary District 6110, will be speaking at the Grove Rotary meeting on Oct. 17 at Noon at the Cowskin Prairie restaurant.

Dr. Potter was born and raised in Chanute, KS and after graduation from Kansas University and Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, Dr. Potter served as base optometrist for Kincheloe AFB, Michigan. He practiced in Salina, KS and Denver, CO before returning to South East Kansas to establish a multidiscipline practice that now includes three optometrists and two ophthalmologists. Dr. Potter has been involved on many Optometry Boards and committees. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry and Diplomate Chairman for the Primary Care Section. He serves on the educational committee of the Heart of American Contact Lens and Primary Care Society. He has authored over 80 Optometric articles and served his state association as editor of the Kansas Optometric Journal. In 2006 he was named by the Kansas Optometric Association as Optometrist of the Year.
Dr. and Mrs. Potter have participated in five international eye care missions. Inspired by hosting a Rotary Group Study Exchange from Chile in 1989, they received a RI Discover Grant to travel to Chile to determine the feasibility of an eye care mission to that country. In coordination with VOSH (Volunteer Optometrists for Service to Humanity) they subsequently have organized and led three teams of eye doctors and Rotarians to Osorno, Ancud and Coyhaique, Chile, South America. Dr. Potter is a Fellow of VOSH International.
He has served in most positions in the Iola Rotary club as well as four terms as Assistant Governor. His father was president of the Chanute, Kansas Rotary club. The Potter’s son and daughter both participated in Rotary Youth Exchanges. Dr. Potter and his wife have been involved in 9 Group Study or Youth Exchanges and he has received the RI District Service Award, the RI Four Avenues Service Citation, several citations from the Ancud and District 4350 Rotarians and the Iola Service Above Self Award. He is a member of the Rotary International action group for Avoidable Blindness. Both he and his wife, Jane are Paul Harris Fellows
He and his wife, Jane a nurse, have two children: Jim, a Real Estate Development Consultant and developer in Kansas City, MO and Julie Mercer, a bank Human Resource Officer in Glen Ellyn, ILL. They have two grandsons, Kale Evan Mercer and Hayden James Potter.

Nautical Flea Market Set This Weekend

The Nautical Flea Market is coming to Grand Lake again this weekend. The Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron is sponsoring the event near Grove, at Bears Den Resort, just north of Sailboat Bridge. For the second year, an impressive array of vendors has signed up to offer boats, nautical items, clothing and marine related services at some great prices to the people of Grand Lake.

Several marinas will be participating including South Winds Marina with boats and merchandise from their Ship¢s Store, Redbud Marina which is a good place to look for sailboats and sailing instruction, and Dripping Springs Yacht Club which, among other things, will be promoting the businesses in the Dripping Springs area. Arrowhead Marina will have boats to sell and offers consignment services to others wishing to sell their boats. Harbors View Marina will be offering items from the Ships Store, Marine Max will have Sea Ray boats available, and Personal Vendors will be offering boats and handmade nautical items.

Marine services can be found at the vendors from Rebel Marine who will have nautical items, boat parts, and boat repair & maintenance services, and also from North Lake Mobil Marine which offers mobile repair services and has a shop near the Hwy 10 Cowskin Bridge. Jerry's Dock Construction will be talking to people about dock manufacturing and repair, and also about their rubbish disposal service. Boat Floater of Oklahoma will have dock related items for sale, and boat lifts at winter prices.

There will be lots of nautical items, clothing and knick-knacks offered by vendors such as Naut-A-Woody who will have nautical items, glassware and paintings. Magnolias will be offering water sports apparel, flags and other related items, and Grand Lake Sports Center will have water sports items and summer apparel at end of summer prices. The Boater¢s World booth will have their excess inventory of marine clothing, shoes, and equipment at bargain prices, as will Grand Outdoors with water sports equipment and new & used jet skis.

You can expect to find unique fishing equipment at the booth of Be Ready Rod Holders, and when you get hungry, stop by the Knock Out BBQ booth where you'll find scrumptious barbeque and burgers, etc; and breakfast on Saturday.

The Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron booth will be offering items donated by its members and some very generous businesses such as: Indian Hills Resort, Lees Resort, Monkey Island Marine Electronics, and Barkers Edgewater Marine. Kings Marine has made a financial contribution to this effort which helps the Power Squadron continue to provide free boating safety classes to the Public.

The 2nd Annual Nautical Flea Market will be open from 3 PM to 7 PM on Friday, Oct. 5, and from 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007. Bears Den Resort is on Hwy 59 one-half mile north of Sailboat Bridge. For additional information about the Nautical Flea Market, call 918-786-4488. The Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron can be found online at: www.usps.org/lc/grandlake.