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Steve Sanford and his organization, the Nichols Park Caretaker's House Restoration Committee, has 60 days to raise $17,000 to start preservation of the structure.
At the Tuesday council meeting, Sanford said he has two bids for roofing, siding and new windows for the 80-year-old structure. To date, he has $5,650 already toward the project.
Sanford said a 501c3 non-profit certificate has been awarded by the state. That makes donations to the project tax deductible.
Tuesday he told the council restoration of the building would be in stages. The first step is to put a new metal roof on the building as well as add new windows and make it presentable from the outside. The building would be secured and more money raised through donations and grants to renovate the inside.
“We want to dry it in and arrest the decay,” Sanford said. “If someone breaks a window out, we will replace it.”
The future use of the building was a concern raised by Mayor Jennifer Munholland. “If we don’t have the intention of putting someone in it, why go through that process,” she asked.
Sanford said the building could be used as an office for someone to take care of the park.
Munholland alluded to a music event scheduled next year to be put on by Troy Aikeman. The city has been in touch with his representatives and preliminary plans call for an annual concert to be held in the area behind the caretaker’s house that would involve “high profile singers”. She said the concert would be a benefit for the school with 80 percent of revenues going to the athletic program and 20 percent toward academics.
“I don’t want to say more about it because Troy wants to make his own announcement,” she said.
The proposal by councilman Michael Dickey calls for Sanford and his group to raise the $12,000 in cash or materials under the current bids. If at that time the goal has not been reached, the city would look at other options.
One of those brought up by councilor Christy Jeffcoat was for the structure to be removed with only the rock walls foundation and chimney remaining and a gazebo or pergola constructed in its place. That would be built using around $6,000 in park and recreation funds.
In other business, the council approved a proclamation declaring Henryetta a Purple Heart City. That will be official Oct. 8 in a special ceremony involving the VFW Post 539.
Council members approved payment of $9,718.36 to the State Auditor and Inspector’s office. “The auditors have been here every month and doing the same audit for the past three years,” Munholland said. She could not give a date when the results of the audit would be released.
Council members approved appointment of Jill Francis, Jason Lilly, Kenny Berry and Keith Estes to three-year terms on the planning and zoning boards, Charlie Jestice and David Bullard to the Henryetta Housing Authority and Estes to the Henryetta Economic Development Authority.
Also approved was waiver of civic center rental and deposit fees for the VFW for a Nov. 8 veterans dinner and Trampas and Sherry Parker for their T&S Racing awards banquet Nov. 7.
The Henryetta Rotary club was given the green light to use the disc golf course at Nichols Park March 5 for a benefit tournament. A rain date of March 12 was included in that approval.
The council denied a request by Tracy Goza from the Henryetta Free Lance to copy microfilm rolls of early newspapers now at the Henryetta library.
“Joann Hott (librarian) did not feel comfortable letting them go,” Munholland said. “The state Historical Society said they can buy copies from them.”
The city will be providing dumpsters at the Farmer’s Market area for a three-day city-wide cleanup Oct. 8 through 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
That request was made by local businessman Jeremy Roberts with the restrictions that the dumpsters would only be available to city residents who must show a current water bill. Only two loads from each person would be allowed. “Last time we had landlords who filled up the dumpsters,” Munholland said.