By a 3-2 decision, Henryetta council members approved remodeling a room at the Nichols Park caretaker’s house to be used as an office.
Tuesday night council Steve Sanford said the Nichols Park Restoration Committee received the okay from the Parks board to use some $6,000 to work on one of the rooms at the house. The Restoration Committee has $6,700 remaining in their account from a fundraising effort two years ago. He said work would be performed by local contractors. When finished it would allow groups using the park for special events to have a meeting place for registration or information center. When finished it would have electric service and heating and air conditioning.
Sanford pointed out the committee is a 501(3) organization.
Council members Sanford, Vernon Vanmeter and mayor Michael Dickey voted for the motion, Jana Cluck voted no and Jennifer Munholland abstained.
The Restoration Committee also was given approval to adopt the three rock restrooms at the park and eventually refurbish them. No cost or timeline for work was given by Sanford.
"The idea is we want to start fixing and repairing things. We want to start using them again,” said Sanford. He said a fundraising drive would be held to defray the cost of remodeling them.
Asked about adopting the rest rooms, Sanford said it would allow the Restoration Committee to get bids.
“The city cannot conduct fundraising drives but the Restoration Committee can,” said chamber executive director Jenny Mooney.
Also dealing with the park, council members gave the approval for Josh Craig to use the park Nov. 15 through 17 for a disc golf tournament. Craig was also appointed to the Henryetta Parks, Recreation and Tourism Board for a three year term.
This year Henryetta will be holding three Cruise Knights this year.
Sanford said he was worried about the event adding a third date. He pointed out at the last Cruise Knight police issued 11 tickets for various driving offenses.
Event chair Christy Jeffcoat was asking for the city to pay for bounce houses and ports johns. The bounce houses would be in place for the June and October events.
That request was approved by a split vote on the council. Sanford and Vanmeter both voted against it while Dickey, Cluck and Munholland voted in favor.
Council members unanimously gave their approval for the Henryetta Economic Development Authority to provide up to $160,000 for sewer line work west of town. That work would be done to help construction of a Casey’s convenience store.
The parking lot at the Trudgeon and Fifth Street intersection is going to be the site of a “Christmas village next December.
Chamber executive director Genny
Mooney requested permission from the council to close off the site for the Christmas holidays. The plans call for portable buildings to be moved onto the lot and vendors renting them and selling their merchandise.
“The shops would be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with evenings only on Thursday and Friday.” She went on to say there would be places for photo opportunities.
The buildings would be furnished by 3 Bears and would be moved onto and off of the lot at no charge to the city. The vendors would play for rental of the buildings. “We feel this would bring more people to town and increase our sales taxes,” she added.
Downtown businesses would be included in a map available to shoppers. “We have seen this done in other towns. Our hope is this would build over the years.”
The buildings would be set in just before Thanksgiving and vendors decorating them for a week. That event is one of the reasons HEDA voted to spend over $30,000 to purchase the property several years ago.
Council members unanimously approved the request. Vanmeter and Sanford were named to represent the council in contact negotiations with both the International Association of Firefighters and Fraternal Order of Police. A request from pastor Jerry Page to use city-owned property behind O’Reilly’s Auto Parts May 25 through June 2 for a tent revival was approved.