The organization striving to restore the caretaker’s house at Nichols Park got the green light to start work Tuesday night.
City council members said the Nichols Park Restoration Committee was given 90 days to put a metal roof on the rock building, new windows and secure it.
Steve Sanford, who spearheaded the effort, said $19,200 has been donated to the project. “The original bid was $17,000,” he told the council. “The contractor is ready to go and can start at the end of the month.”
Sanford said no plans have been made for the future use of the building. “We are in the process of looking at uses including making it an information center. There is a need for information that can be done in a professional way.” He went on to point out that use would not require any restroom facilities or water.
Councilman Michael Dickey said there is a similar building used at Black mesa State Park. “It has a slot on the outside with maps and information.” He also said the Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge has information placards and a metal structure making pamphlets available showing the history and trails. “This is a perfect kind of setup.”
Replacing a downed stoplight at the end of Main Street is going to cost $17,927. That structure was destroyed in a traffic accident several weeks ago. The city will pay for the materials and work and be reimbursed by insurance.
In another traffic-related item, council members approved making part of Gentry marked for two-lane westbound traffic where it meets King Street. That part of the street approaches the school and the lane change is designed to improve traffic flow
Council members approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the county Criminal Justice Authority that will allow city prisoners to be placed in the jail facility in Okmulgee.
Also gaining approval was a decision to use Guy Engineering of Tulsa to inspect bridges throughout the town.That inspection is goin to be held from April 2, 2022 to March 31, 2024.
Tristan Demmitt was given approval to use the civic center for a free city-wide Christmas dinner Dec. 23. The approval waived both the rental fee and deposit. “This has been well-attended,” said Jennifer Munholland.
Also given approval for civic center use with no charge was Vickie Jones, community educator for 1-Eighty organization on Nov. 22 and 23. Janna Dugan said the organization deals with children in trouble with the law.
Council members increased the city manager’s spending limit from $15,000 to $20,000 saying that would allow Donna White to make some chemical purchases for the water plant without the need for council authorization.
City employees will be getting non-taxed bonuses this year. Council members approved the bonus schedule not to exceed $1,500 per a single individual
On the Henryetta Municipal Authority side of the agenda, approval was given to spend $225,127.36 of the funds from the COVID relief package for the water line work in front of QuikTrip. That was slightly less than half of the total needed for the project. Henryetta Economic Development Authority members approved spending $$398,215.30 to help finance the project.

A “Hometown Christmas” will be the theme of the 2021 Henryetta Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade.
Scheduled for Dec. 4 the parade will start at 6:30 p.m. with entries lining up starting at 5:30 p.m.
According to parade chairman Lyle Stogner, there will be first, second and third place awards for best entries.
A “People’s Choice” award will be given with those attending voting not heir favorite.
“We want the public involved so we have created this special award,” Stogner said. The public can vote for their favorite entry by emailing their selection to peopleschoice@henryetta,org. That winner will be announced before Christmas.
Anyone wishing to participate in the parade can download an entry form {phocadownload view=file|id=67|target=s} or by going to the chamber website: henryetta.org or the chamber Facebook page. Additional entry forms will be available at the Chamber of Commerce office, American Exchange and First National banks as well as First Family Federal Credit Union.

Military veterans and first responders, including police, fire and ambulance personnel, were the honorees Saturday afternoon at the Joy For Life Ministry. Food, special gifts and prizes were available for the nearly 200 who turned out for the event in Henryetta.

Over 200 veterans, local and state dignitaries and elected officials were on hand Thursday as the Veterans Memorial Monument was officially dedicated.
Set at the Okmulgee County Court House, the monuments lists every service member who paid the ultimate sacrifice from World War I through today.
It was the brainchild of Thomas Payne, an Okmulgee native. The 80-year-old veteran who served as a helicopter pilot in two tours of duty in Vietnam, gave a history of how the monument came to be.
Oklahoma National Guard Brigadier General Thomas H. Mancino pointed out the monument shows those, “who gave their last full measure. As I see these names, I am moved. What they did was for you, us and our country.”