Altus City Council approves fee update, large waterline change order, signage code change and land purchase; authorizes energy MOU and parking bid

The Altus City Council on Oct. 12 approved a mix of infrastructure, land-acquisition and regulatory items, including a $3,285,279.77 contract amendment for water-line work, an amendment to the Unified Development Code on signage adopted as an emergency ordinance, a citywide fee-schedule update, a memorandum of understanding to pursue local generation with the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, and the purchase of a 34.18-acre permanent easement for a detention pond.

The actions provide immediate authority for several capital projects and administrative corrections: the fee schedule update places a previously omitted sanitation fee back on the city’s centralized charge schedule; the water-line contract amendment adds northeast line improvements under a DWSRF contract; the UDC change removes language that had required the city to furnish and install developer signage and assigns responsibility to developers along ODOT standards; the MOU sets terms for the city and Altus Municipal Authority to work with the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority on local generation options; and the easement purchase secures privately owned land for the Falcon Road Detention Pond project.

City staff told the council the fee change was a housekeeping correction recommended in a prior rate study, and that the street commissioner had requested the signage text be removed because the city no longer has capacity to fabricate and install developer signage. "It basically takes out the sentence that says the city will furnish and install these signs for the developer on the basis of the city's current price schedule," a city staff member said during the ordinance presentation.

On energy planning, a city staff member said the memorandum of understanding is required by the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority for the parties to collaborate. "We're have an ongoing project we're working on that has to do with solar, battery backup, natural gas generation, and ultimately, we're looking at, small modular nuclear reactor in the future," the staff member said, explaining why OMPA requested the MOU.

Votes at a glance: the council recorded votes on each item during the meeting. Where the transcript recorded roll-call responses, council members voted in favor as recorded below.

- Resolution 2025-1 — Update to citywide centralized fee schedule: Adopted. Motion moved and seconded; roll-call responses recorded as Yes from Feiler, Reister, Jenks, Wilmack, Bucci, Brady Lee, George, Nelson, Garrison and others as called. (Transcript evidence: 214.735–237.04001; 259.14–275.59497.)

- Water-line contract amendment — DWSRF contract P40-1011501-O4 (Force Jam Joint Venture), $3,285,279.77: Approved. Motion and second; roll-call Yes recorded from Womack, Jenks, Reister, Feiler, Bucci, Brady Lee, George, Nelson, Garrison and others. (Transcript evidence: 276.955–341.08002; 312.41–326.60498.)

- Memorandum of Understanding among City of Altus, Altus Municipal Authority and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (local generation collaboration): Approved. Motion seconded and adopted by roll call with Yes votes recorded from Bucci, Feiler, Resner, Brady Lee, George, Jenks, Womack, Nelson, Garrison and others. (Transcript evidence: 326.10498–383.565.)

- Ordinance 2025-1 — Zone text amendment to Appendix 4-412 (signage) to remove city obligation to furnish/install developer signs; adoption and emergency clause: Both the ordinance and its emergency clause were adopted. Motion and second; roll-call Yes recorded from council members present. (Transcript evidence: 510.97998–624.81995; 613.305–641.015.)

- Purchase of permanent easement — 34.18 acres from Red River Land Development Company LLC for $170,900 plus a temporary construction easement for the Falcon Road Detention Pond: Approved. Motion and second; roll-call Yes recorded. (Transcript evidence: 637.255–700.045; 664.615–673.27496.)

- Wharf pool concession and amenities bid: No action taken. Councilors said they wanted to review bids more thoroughly before proceeding. (Transcript evidence: 691.545–706.79.)

- Overflow pool parking bid award — Welding Construction: Approved as the low bidder; the motion referenced a figure given in the meeting as "317,007 and $66 contingent on total cost of whole concession building and amenities bid." Roll-call Yes recorded. (Transcript evidence: 701.225–747.235.)

- Executive session authorization — Enter into executive session pursuant to 25 Oklahoma Statutes sections referenced in the agenda for an update on an item listed as "20": Approved. The council adjourned to executive session and later returned, stating there would be no vote on the substance at that time. (Transcript evidence: 747.795–778.775; 778.775–845.62.)

What the council said and what happens next

City staff identified state funding as the anticipated source for the Falcon Road detention-pond project and recommended the easement purchase to allow work to proceed. Regarding the water-line work, staff presented the change order and contract amendment to fold northeast Phase 2 improvements into the existing DWSRF-funded contract. On signage, staff recommended the UDC amendment because the street department no longer provides fabrication and installation; the ordinance now places that responsibility on developers and references ODOT standards for traffic-control signage.

The council did not take action on the Wharf pool concession and amenities bid, leaving that procurement open for further review. The meeting concluded after a brief executive session; city staff confirmed no vote followed the closed portion.

Speakers quoted in this report appear as they were identified in the meeting transcript.