Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Commissioners Approve Agreement Providing School Resource Officers


At their monthly meeting Monday night, city commissioners approved an agreement that will provide resource officers at Sallisaw Public Schools for the 2019-2020 school year.

The pact between the city and the Sallisaw school district allows for two police resource officers to patrol the schools. The terms of the deal allow the city to temporarily assign or decrease the number of officers to provide required law enforcement activities in the community.

As part of the agreement, the city will be responsible for paying the officers assigned to the district’s campuses, while the district will match the city’s contribution for the officers by paying 33% of the total salary and benefit compensation for each officer as matching funds, which will be paid on a quarterly basis.

The district is also responsible for repaying the city for overtime and other related benefits for resource officers asked to work at school events outside normal school hours.

Sallisaw Mayor Ernie Martens applauded the agreement, saying, “It gave me a lot of comfort to have school resource officers when I was a principal. I want to see the program continue.”

Commissioners unanimously approved the amendment of the city ordinance regarding fees, fines and other costs related to city permits.

Commissioners also approved a $28,000 contribution by the city for the Sallisaw High School football field’s turf project to pay for the asphalt overlay of the walking track around the field. County employees will provide the labor for the project.

The panel also approved an ordinance amending a portion of Sallisaw’s rules regarding marijuana and tobacco businesses. In addition, the board approved amending municipal court fees, fines and other costs related to medical marijuana waste disposal.

Other items approved by the council include the rezoning of a plat of land in the Oberste addition of Sallisaw. Commissioners also approved an agreement with the state Department of Transportation to maintain the traffic signal at US 59 north and US 64 (Cherokee Avenue). The US 59 north highway project includes the replacement of traffic signals at the intersection. The city will be required to maintain the signals once they are upgraded and operational. The city has requested that the signals be camera-operated, not loop-operated.

The city council also approved several vehicle purchases for various city departments. Officials have agreed to pay $30,856.70 to Randall Ford in Fort Smith for a 2020 Ford Explorer for administration use. They also approved spending $37,500 for a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe SSV four-wheel drive from Blue Ribbon Chevrolet for Fire Department use.

The purchase of three Hustler 60” deck, gas-powered, commercial mowers for Park Department also got the green light from commissioners. The total amount for the three mowers is $22,800.

By a unanimous vote, commissioners agreed to adopt rates and fees for DiamondNet, a telecommunications service. In the Sallisaw Municipal Authority meeting just after the city council meeting, commissioners also approved additional measures regarding DiamondNet.


Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer


For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com


   

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