Durant City Council in a recent meeting voted to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for University Boulevard improvements.
The resolution states the city has determined the critical need for intersection rehabilitation and street improvements along sections of University Boulevard to benefit the entire Durant community. The grant application is for $171,250.00 with the city providing matching funds in the amount of $273,053.
The project would be on University from Sixth Avenue through Bryan Drive and will involve milling and overlaying, according to Public Works Director Phillip Hightower, who said it is hoped the city will get word of approval in October, and it would be completed in a year.
In the Durant City Utilities Authority meeting that preceded the council meeting, it was voted to replace the clarifier at the waste water treatment plant.
“The center drive went out at the waste water treatment plant,” Hightower said, in a memo. “This is a vital piece of equipment for the daily operation of the treatment plant. EI2 is the only company that would give us a quote that included installation. This clarifier was to be included in the scope of the plant rebuild that we are planning for in the near future. We spoke with OWRB, and we are able to use the money that we borrowed to fix the clarifier since it was in the scope of the rebuild.”
The cost is $82,760.00. An amendment to the city employee handbook regarding social media use was approved.
“Prior to my hiring as PIO, the city had kind of a verbal guideline on how we would use city owned social media” Rebecca Carroll, city public information officer said. “This just puts that in writing,” “This makes personnel policy more specific.”
The memo states, “City employees should refrain from using social media while on work time unless authorized by their supervisor. City-provided email addresses may not be used to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use. It is the department head’s responsibility to ensure employees are aware of and follow the city’s social media policy.
“The Public Information Officer (PIO) will review, approve, monitor, and govern all City social media sites. In the event the PIO is unavailable for an extended period of time, the city manager will designate a responsible party to fulfill the necessary role of the PIO in reference to the scope and responsibilities outlined in this document.
“Department heads may assign one staff member additional duties as a content editor for official City of Durant social media assets or, upon written approval of the city manager, to manage appropriate departmental social media assets. City employees are responsible for posting to City of Durant social media assets only if assigned to do so by the appropriate authority within this policy and are responsible for ensuring all contributions to social media sites adhere to the policy.”
A re-plat request for 323 W. Plum St. was approved so that six multi-family units can be constructed.
Another re-plat request for N.E. Fourth Avenue and Elm Street was also approved so single-family homes can be built on the three lots.