April declared Autism Awareness Month

The City of Durant has designated April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month and Vice Mayor Mike Simulescu read a proclamation during last week’s city council meeting.

Board members of The Owen Foundation were present for the announcement. TOF is a non-profit organization supporting autism and special-needs families and enabling communities through awareness and education to embrace each child’s special and unique abilities.

“Whereas autism impacts an estimated one in 34 individuals in Oklahoma and 85 percent of autistic adults struggle with employment,” Simulescu said, reading from the proclamation.

The proclamation stated autism can cause challenges with with verbal and non-verbal communications, social interaction and repetitive behaviors that can affect anyone. A collaborative approach will help advance research, provide a better understanding of autism while strengthening advocacy efforts and ensuring access to services and resources to allow people and families affected by autism to live up to their greatest potential.

“Whereas the City of Durant, Oklahoma, is honored to take part in the annual observance of Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Day to address the diverse needs of individuals and families affected by autism,” Simulescu read. “Now, therefore I, Mike Simulescu, vice mayor of the City of Durant, Oklahoma, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month to increase understanding and acceptance of Oklahomans with autism spectrum disorder.”

Mayor Martin Tucker gave information on the January sales tax report and he said city revenues are at 55 percent of budget year to date.

“Now, this end of the month for December is halfway through the fiscal year,” Tucker said. “So, 50 percent of the year and we’re at 55 percent on revenue.

“That’s a positive variance of five percent on revenues. Now, next is the transfer in from capital improvements. That shows to be below and that will transfer in just what is needed. So, if we haven’t spent very much money according to budget, then the revenue will be below budget as far as that’s concerned because we just push enough money in there to cover it.”

According to Tucker, December was a record in sales tax collections for the city.

A preliminary replat and rezone requestfromDannyKhoury for property at Rodeo Road and Highway 68 was approved by the council. The planning and zoning committee recommended the council approve it.

A memo from Community Development Director Paul Cottrell states the property will be for a subdivision.

“Applicant wishes to keep a section of the property as commercial and rezone the remaining property as residential to construct single-family homes,” Cottrell said, in the memo. “The section currently zoned R-1 is no longer owned by the applicant. I have spoken with the water department regarding the concern for water in the past in this location and was told that since the repair of the waterline running under the railroad tracks, they have had no reports of water issues. They will be conducting a pressure test to get an accurate reading.”

The Durant Airport Authority awarded a bid and approved a contract from J Lee Enterprises in the amount of $202,122.00 for taxiway A1 pavement repair.

“You may recall a year or so ago, there was a plane that landed because it was on fire and when it landed, it went ahead and burned on up and as it was burning up, it burned up part of our taxiway as well,” Tucker said. “The insurance has agreed to pay for the engineering and the repairs so here we are.”

J Lee Enterprises is in Edmond and their bid was $160,000 less than the other bid that was received. The project is expected to begin in the middle of March.