By Joy Hampton
July 8, 2009 — CATOOSA – A check from FEMA for reimbursement to the City of Catoosa means 41 volunteers will be paid $10 an hour for their donated time during the 2007 ice storm. Mayor Rita Lamkin asked the city council the make up the 25-percent difference, or $1,205 that FEMA does not pay.
Volunteers will be paid a total of $4,820 for hours worked during the ice storm, much of it at the city shelter.
“This is a bonus,” said Lamkin of the $3,615 check from FEMA.
In other city business, two lawn mowers were purchased for the maintenance department to replace two that were stolen. An insurance claim is pending on the mowers, but Maintenance Supervisor Al Pringle said the equipment is needed now to keep up with the summertime work.
Two Grasshopper mowers were approved for purchase at the state bid price from Triple T Equipment for $11,062 each to be paid from the 1009-10 General Fund Maintenance Department Capital Outlay Budget.
“Grasshopper was the best one that we looked at,” said Pringle. He reported that he and his staff and examined and tested several mowers before selecting the Grasshoppers.
Catoosa also awarded a contract for repair to storm drainage at 2310 North Highway 66 near Reasor’s grocery and “Dr. Duke’s office.”
The bid was awarded to local business, American Concrete, Inc. for $4,400.
Also bidding were Cotton Trucking of Beggs $3,384, R&M; Concrete Construction $5,600, Green Country Concrete Construction, Inc of Catoosa $5,796, and Earth Smart Construction, Inc. of Tulsa $7,321.
Though American was the second lowest bid, Pringle said he had no experience with Cotton Trucking of Beggs. Council members wanted to award the bid to a Catoosa business if possible to help local economy as well as stating a desire to work with a known entity.
