Local/Area News
Henryetta voters will be going to the polls in June to decide if they want to extend a once-cent sales tax.
The tax has been in existence for the past 20 years and was extended last in a 2014 vote. Funds from the penny are split with a half of it going to the general fund and the rest divided to Henryetta Economic Development Authority and the restricted city fund used to make note payments.
That call for a vote was made at a special city council meeting Friday at noon.
Nathan Ellis, a member of the Oklahoma Public Finance Law group, said the June vote is necessary to keep the flow of revenue consistent. “If we waited until August, the tax would fall off for three months he said.
“We need it,” said council member Jennifer Munholland.
After the meeting, city manager David Bullard said the money is necessary to keep city services operating as they are now.
Also during the meeting, council members heard of a plan to build a new water tower just off Warren Road west of town. It would replace a defunct tower that has serviced residents on the hill but is now inoperative.
To fund the project the city would borrow $4,750,000 from the Oklahoma Water Resources board. That money would be added to an existing loan from the state. It is expected to be paid off in four years.
Bill Myers, the head of the engineering firm that would be in charge of the project urged the council to start the project now. “The cost of goods is going up,” He said. “We need to lock it in now rather than wait.”
Councillor Munholland pointed out the rebuilt water tower east of town cost $1 per gallon when it was constructed. Current estimates are four times that amount. The current plans call for a 750,000 gallon tower but city officials are going to be looking at the bids with an eye for a one million-gallon storage tower.
The project would not be without an additional cost to local residents.
Ellis told the council there would be an increase in existing note payments. He said that increase would be covered by an additional $3.76 per month charge on each water bill for the next four years. “The payment would fall off in 2028,” he said.
When finished, the new tower would provide better service to residents both on the hill as well as better water pressure to the west side of town.
“If there is a new housing addition on the hill, there would be water for them,” mayor Michael Dickey said.
Myers said he would want to start construction before the end of the 2024 calendar year and would take about 12 months to complete.
Good Friday was marked by this group of young people from the Henryetta Church of the Nazarene. The marchers started on the east side of town and walked to 12th Street along Main Street celebrating the Easter season. The church will be holding Easter services at 10:30 Sunday morning. This walk has been a tradition by church members for over ten years.
When the cast members of “The Music Man” steps onto the stage at Henryetta High School, they will be dressed in full costume paid for, in part by the Henryetta Education Foundation. The organization presented a $5,000 check Wednesday to Justin Been. It makes up about half of the cost of the costumes that are being rented for the May musical. Cast members surrounded HEF president James McCullough, HEF member Jill Francis and Been at the presentation. In the photo below, Been shows off the sound board that gives the musical performances a professional presentation. It was purchased two years ago also through a Henryetta Education Foundation donation.
The City of Henryetta will begin trimming trees in the road easements mid April and this will continue off and on throughout the spring.
“Signage obstructed by tree branches or shrubs will also be targeted during this time,” said city manager David Bullard. Because a tractor with a side mounted brush cutter will be used to trim during this time, the city is urging landowners with trees growing into the easement that they trim these or have an arborist perform the job.
Anyone with questions questions in regards to if their trees will be trimmed or not should call city hall at 918-652-3348.
Clearview and Grayson are included in the trail that is designed to highlight the Black towns across the state.
Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, authored the bill that is providing $1.5 million for a revolving fund to develop the trail. Legislation creating the framework was approved in the 2023 session and signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Matthews said SB 1356 will enable the project to move forward.
“These communities and sites are part of Oklahoma’s identity, and the trail will shine a light on that history, the importance to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and inspire future generations,” said Matthews.
“This will help us educate our own citizens about that history and will also attract tourism dollars from across the country and around the world.”
Matthews said the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail will begin at Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center in Ponca City, then proceed to the site of the 1920s “Osage Reign of Terror,” in Fairfax. The trail will continue through the state’s all Black communities, including Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon. The trail then moves to Greenwood Rising and the Pathway to Hope, in Tulsa, before ending at the Clara Luper Center, to be built in Oklahoma City.
SB 1356 now moves to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, is the principal author, with co-author, Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City.