The real hair raiser at the VUA meeting was the 2.1 million gallon water bill. Yeah, you read it right! The total bill was over $14,000.00, that is fourteen thousand dollars. Can you believe it? Somehow the leak didn't go spewing all over, it somehow ended up going down a drain that no one seemed to notice?
Yep, I scratched my head too. That huge bill didn't include the plumbing bill the owner of the building had to pay on top of everything. I think it was over $4,000.00. Bet rent goes up on that commercial property.
You know they would just have to cart me away on something like that, shock treatments might bring me back to reality.
There was a burned out house that they were going to abate, but it sold that day, before the council meeting, so they couldn't do it. I think the new owner will clear it away fairly fast.
The council approved an agreement to help fund the services of a museum consultant from the hotel/motel tax. I'm not sure what this consultant will do, but maybe we'll all find out together.
The city of Vinita now owns the small building up by the water tower on the corner of South Foreman and West. Illinois. Verizon had paid a fee to keep some of their equipment in it, but no longer need it, so they're going to give the city a bill of sale. That is some lost revenue for the city.
They approved hiring a dispatcher for the police department. He's worked in the position before, so requires no training. 120 day probationary period and beginning base pay of $12.50 per hour considering his experience and knowledge.
Approved an action for the police department to retire, "Doc" the drug dog. He has some health problems and will be adopted by one of the reserve officers that has worked with this type of dog in the past. A Belgian Malinois K-9 will be trained and purchased. There is a guarantee and the K-9 will be three years of age or less, medical certificates, hip x-ray and good work, drive, temperament.
I laughingly offered my neighbor's dog for free, you remember, the mean one? I was just joking, but he said they didn't use females as drug dogs, so then I suggested they could use her as a breeder dog.
I was just kidding. I've been trying to make friends with her, but it's not going well.
The city treasurer reported that there were all positive balances, no negatives this time and that 2012 should be a negative growth year for payroll. I say Yip, yip, yipee!
They had a couple of executive sessions. The first one was on the automated meters and they took no action. The second meeting was about the railroad crossing at East Delaware. I didn't stay, so I can't tell you if they took any action. I doubt if they did though, just a hunch.
From department heads it was reported that 7 reserve officers worked 250 hours for the police department in January and that saved the city a big bundle. The chief told, but I missed it. Sorry.
The fire department has received a couple of grants, one from Wal-Mart and one from the Cherokee Nation. I didn't catch what they were purchasing. If a train is going by when they speak, you may as well forget it cause you can't hear nothin.
The librarian reported the staff was working on improving the Western section of the library and they are going to improve the Science Fiction section also. She reported almost 200 people a day are coming to the library. I say, "Wowee!"
An update on the trane at the water treatment plant was given by Director of Operations. Can you believe it only cost $81,000.00 to upgrade one trane. We have three left to do, but this is gonna be a whole lot cheaper than the new water plant that some people said the city needed.
My theory is, exhaust every avenue and search and research, ask for different opinions, and talk, talk, talk before you decide to spend taxpayer monies. New leadership has already proven advantageous for Vinita, OK.
Everybody is gettin shook up about the snow headed our way. I'm simply saying, "No, no, no, no, no,no snow!"
Until Later,
Okie Girl @ Home
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