Council approves bids for Runestone repair

By CRAIG HALL

The Heavener City Council approved bids totaling $105,350 for repairs at the Heavener Runestone Park in Thursday’s regular business meeting.

Present were Mayor Max Roberts, along with council members Melinda Ballantine, Marvin Meredith and Jim Roll.

The repairs will be for the gift shop, community building, enclosure for the Runestone and a rock building.

The council had been trying to get bids for some time before Kimmons Company out of Arkansas received the bid.

The Runestone is growing in popularity as the visitors have increased and income is currently between $8,000 to $12,000 per month while it was $12,000 per year just a few years ago.

Council members also approved buying a walk-behind patch roller for $15,850 plus shipping. Three quotes were received on the project.

Ruth Gwinn, who lives on West Third, asked the council about repairs on the alley running behind her home and informed them the top of her water meter was broken. Typically, the home owner is responsible for upkeep on the alley, but several people use the alley as basically a road and there are deep ruts. City Manager Cody Smith said he would review the situation and would also have a new top for the water meter installed.

Code violations were approved for Robert and Ellen Morrison, for property located at 706 Short I, for rank weeds and grass and allowing accumulation of trash.

Other violations were approved for property located at 706 Short I, for allowing accumulation of trash; Orlando Lira, for property located at 502 West Avenue. G, for rank weeds and grass and allowing accumulation of trash; Patrick Smithers, for property located at 309 ½ West Ave. I, for rank weeds and grass and allowing accumulation of trash, and a vehicle with out of date tags; and Michael and Pamela Lockhart, for property located at 301 West Avenue D, for rank weeds and grass and allowing accumulation of trash.

Several other properties were listed on the agenda, but the problems had been cleared up.

The Heavener Utilities Authority met earlier with all the council members present, along with HUA members Jim Carr, Jason Tiffee and David Tamplin present.

The HUA held an executive session to discuss the OK Foods contract situation with the city attorney. No action was taken.

Roberts asked about the status of the old water building off Independence Road and was informed it was currently being used for storage. He was concerned about the liability to the city, and the upkeep.