Pryor Creek council approves festival alcohol permit, settlement, water-rate increase and new fire pumper

Pryor Creek—s City Council on the evening's consent and addendum votes approved several measures affecting festival operations, city finances and public safety.

Council voted to authorize the mayor to sign a letter allowing American Legion Post 182 to sell alcoholic beverages during the Bluegrass Chili Festival on Sept. 6—6, 2024, under a special-event license rather than a permanent establishment license. Tim, speaking for the Legion, said, "It's a special event license," and explained the Legion would assume liability, require ABLE-serving training for servers and use an ID-scanning system to verify age. Councilmembers emphasized the license would be confined to the festival footprint and noted the Legion agreed to a revenue-sharing arrangement with the city's EDTA.

The council approved a $15,500 settlement payment to Dylan Hamill to be paid from the attorney/miscellaneous legal expense account. The motion carried following roll-call voting; the purchase-order authorization was entered and will be processed through the city—s accounting procedures.

The council amended the Graham Community Building rental terms, raising the nonrefundable rental fee from $50 to $80 to help offset utilities. The refundable deposit and fees for additional days remain unchanged. Staff said the change is intended to better align rental revenue with average annual utility costs for the building.

On utilities, the council approved an increase in water rates inside the corporate limits from $5.10 per 1,000 gallons to $5.22 per 1,000 gallons, effective with August 2024 billing. An OWA representative said the adjustment reflects cost-of-service pressures and capital needs; he estimated a typical customer's bill would rise by about $0.60 per billing cycle and highlighted available assistance programs (LIHEAP/LIHWAP and community funds) for struggling households.

In a separate addendum vote, the council approved the purchase of a Pierce pumper fire truck from the fire-truck reserve account for a net amount of $545,681.37. Staff explained the original truck price was $797,681.37, reduced by a county sales-tax contribution of roughly $102,000 and a trade-in valued around $150,000 to reach the net purchase order amount. The council discussed fleet-funding partnerships and grant support from county and tribal sources.

Council also approved authorizing ACH/direct-pay capability for vendor payments and "positive pay" protective measures that staff said will reduce postage and fraud risk. Staff noted the vendor license was shown in the packet at $27,100 but the PO was written conservatively at $54,100 pending final invoicing; recurring software-assurance costs were discussed at roughly $136 per month.

Most consent-agenda items and purchase orders were approved by roll-call votes during the meeting. The council met in executive session later in the evening to discuss collective bargaining with the police lodge; no public action was taken upon return from executive session.

Votes at a glance: consent agenda approved; Item G (American Legion special-event alcohol permit) approved; Item H (Dylan Hamill settlement) approved; Item I (Graham Building fee change) approved; Item L (water-rate increase) approved; Addendum 1 (fire pumper purchase) approved; Addendum 2 (ACH/direct-pay authorization) approved.