The Bristow City Council met Monday evening in the council chambers for its regular meeting. Items on the agenda discussed by the council included the purchase of a lawnmower for the airport. This purchase would be paid for out of the Airport Equipment and Repair fund. The board unanimously agreed this item was a necessity for the upkeep of the airport.
The council opened sealed bids on two mobile homes located at the airport. One is considered to be the caretakers quarters and the other is the pilot lounge. Kerry Hilbert was awarded the bid for the pilot lounge mobile with a high bid o $17,199 and the caretakers quarters mobile was awarded to Jonathan Bridges with a high bid of $6,000.
An update was given on the Bristow swimming pool. Tara Mattox, who has been manager of the pool for several years, gave her recommendation to the board as to the condition of the pool. In her opinion, the pool is in need of so many repairs, it is not feasible to spend thousands repairing the pool for one summer. She would like to see the pool start being torn down and replaced. Mattox stated that she had spoken to several residents and feels they would be on board with not opening this summer, as long as they saw some work being done. The mayor and council members discussed the pros and cons, cost of repairing the existing pool and the safety issues with the pool and unanimously agreed that it would be in the best interest of the city to not open this summer but to begin the process of getting the new pool up and running. It was agreed that trying to repair the existing pool is basically a waste of money, where that money could be spent on something for the new pool, something the children who visit the pool would really enjoy. It was agreed that having a brand new and safe pool for the children and residents is what is best for the children, the city and the residents of Bristow.
Two properties located within the City of Bristow were up for discussion on abatement. One property is located at 404 E. 7th Street, owned by John Weinstock. This property is being abated due to the overgrowth of weeds and grass, along with trash and debris. Also a second abatement for dilapidated buildings. Weinstock stated to the board that he was in the process of getting the property cleaned up, had replaced areas of the roof and had every intention of getting the property cleaned and renovated as he eventually intends to reside at the property. There was no action taken on this abatement.
The second property is located at 112 W. Washington Street, owned by Claude and Sandra Vanderslice. This property is also being abated due to grass, weeds, trash and debris, along with dilapidated buildings. Vanderslice told the board that this property was under contract to be sold to the Free Holiness Church and currently was in the hands of the abstract company. He understood that the church intended to tear everything down and build a bigger parking lot for the church. The board tabled this item for 30 days.
The council went into executive session to discuss the hiring of Calvin Hutson as a Bristow Police Officer for a probationary period of one year, employment to become effective immediately and discussion of the employment of Danny Gann as an Animal Control Officer, within the Bristow Police Department, for a probationary period of six months. The board voted yes on the employment of both persons.
On the municipal side of the meeting, the board approved miscellaneous claims and only one agenda item faced the board on the hospital authority side of the meeting, which was paying of a claim to Crow & Dunlevy.
The city council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. The meetings are always open to the public.