Joy Hampton
Staff Reporter
CLAREMORE —
County commissioners withdrew from a contract for a Community Development Block Grant that would have funded a sewer line to Baldor-Nupar on advice from Andy Armstrong of INCOG and tabled action on a Tort claim in Monday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.
A proposed sewer line that would have opened up 400 acres to development is on hold for now according to Rural Sewer District 1 Manager Dick McGuire. That project was initiated by Baldor-Nupar to deal with issues the company is having with an outdated lagoon and included a $100,000 CDBG.
Baldor-Nupar and RSD 1 were partnering in the venture with the county acting as the funding conduit for the grant money.
According to Armstrong, Baldor-Nupar has decided not to pursue the sewer line project.
“They still have a sewer issue,” said Armstrong. He said the company will likely go the city of Claremore for the needed wastewater treatment.
Baldor-Nupar’s participation made the project for that area feasible. McGuire said that while a sewer line across that acreage is on hold for now, RSD 1 does have at least one other project on the horizon.
Issues with flood plains and wetlands hampered the Baldor sewer line project.
District 2 County Commissioner Mike Helm questioned Armstrong as to whether the county could retain that money for use elsewhere. Armstrong said the money was designated for the sewer project and would have to go back into the CDBG pool.
The county is the conduit for another CDBG in the amount of $159,950, however, for the Owalla water line. Commissioners approved that authorization on the day’s agenda.
In other business, commissioners tabled a Notice of Tort Claim filed by “Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hicks for damages to home, out-buildings, and real property located at 22944 South Pecan Street” in Concord Height subdivision in Claremore allegedly caused by flooding on May 1, 2009.
District Attorney Gene Haynes suggested commissioners table the agenda item so his office could study the matter. He said the Board will either take no action or deny the claim.
Other county business included the following action:
• Approved request for appropriations for Use Tax $45,770, RC Courthouse and E911 facility $84,536, Unrestricted Highway $504,303 (includes deposit from ETR funds), Cellular Phone Usage $22,405, E911 $30,033
• Transfer of funds by OSU Extension to capital outlay $8,000 and from OSU Personal Services to general fund Building Improvement (contribution from unused funds back to county) $10,000
• Approved utility permits to AT&T for trenching on 161st East Ave. in D2; Rural Water District 3 for boring in Hobbs Creek Trail in D2 and Rural Water District 5 boring under E530 in D3
•Approved blanket POs for 911 Addressing to Froman Oil for $300; Emergency Management to Froman Oil $400; Sheriff’s Office to D1 (fuel) $5,000, D2 $3,000, D3 $6,500; Sheriff to Speedy Lube $500; Sheriff Board of Prisoners to Bimbo Bakery $1,350, Farmers Brother Coffee $300, Sysco Foods (produce) $3,200, Sysco Foods (groceries) $7,100, Warehouse Market $300, Correctional Dental Services $2,000, Diamond Medical Supply $1,000, Diamond Drugs, Inc. $6,000, St. Francis Lab $1,200, PHS Mobile X-Ray $600, Medical Compliance Specialists $400; D3 to Office Everything $200, Lowes $300
•Acknowledge check from Grand Gateway Economic Development Assoc. E911 for February period reported in April $22,405.
