The City of Tonkawa will re-open under the governor’s latest phase one protocol, City Manager Kirk Henderson said today.
City office will remain closed until Monday, May 4th.
“Even though we’re relaxing restrictions, it is each individual’s responsibility to protect themselves,” Henderson said, “We have to continue to keep everybody safe.”
The city library will re-open Monday, May 4. Details can be found at left in events.
Henderson continued to urge everyone to support local businesses as they proceed towards re-opening restaurants, dining rooms, churches, etc.
Guidelines for the phase one re-opening as set by the governor are included at the end of this article.
At last week’s meeting of the mayor and council, members voted to buy 143 acres of land for $1 million from Taylor D. and Elizabeth Jane Hembree. The land is located in the southwest quarter of section 31, township 26 north, range 1 west.
The offer to purchase has been accepted by the Hembrees, but closing awaits appraisal and some other issues, according to City Attorney Bryce Kennedy.
From Highway 60 and 60th Street, go a half mile south to where the land is located. It is a half mile south of Highway 60 and borders the Tonkawa Casino property on the south.
Henderson said purchase was for economic developmet and a public water supply. “We want to be able to meet Tonkawa’s future needs,” Henderson said.
The city plans to borrow the money for purchase of the land from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and set it up on a 30- year payout. Engineering will begin once the land is closed on to put the water wells online. The city wants to be ready with plans for the new water infrastructure in case the federal government comes out with “shovel ready” infrastructure grants.
Security Title and Trust will be handling closing at a cost $4,007 on the Hembree land.
The city’s present water well field is on James and Orva Rothgeb land east of Tonkawa on old Highway 60. The lease costs the city $1,000 a year. Councilmen Ken Smith, Jack Evans, Glenn Cope, Stacy Burns and Scott Klufa voted to pay $17,365.31 in two payments to the Rothgebs for 63 months of water used.
According to the city’s latest financial report, it was $8,302,731 in total cash available with $2,669,280 unrestricted and $5,633,451 restricted cash.
Phase 1 guidance includes:
• Elderly and vulnerable Oklahomans should continue to follow the safer-at-home guidelines.
• Oklahomans should continue to maximize their physical ...
