Durant City Council accepted the 2023 Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Enhanced 911 Funding Sustainability Grant in the amount of $2,993 to fund purchasing of approximately 20 push-to-talk headsets and four headset adapters for the Bryan County Public Safety Answering Point (911 center).
Also approved during a recent meeting was the 2024 Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG) Public Safety Equipment grant in the amount of $5,000 to partially fund the purchase of excavation safety equipment for the street department.
The council voted to appoint Andy Patel to the Durant Tourism Economic Development Authority Board. He will fill the remaining term of the late Charles Calhoun.
According to a city memo, Calhoun was a hotel owner who served on the Durant Tourism Economic Development Authority Board as a member of the Durant Hotel Owners up until his passing on January 16, 2024. Patel is the owner of Econo Lodge and, as such, would meet the criteria to serve as a member of the Durant Hotel Owners on the Durant Tourism Economic Development Authority Board for the remainder of Mr. Calhoun’s term.
The council amended fees for swimming lessons and Discover Scuba as provided by the city to ensure the city recovers expenses for these services. Swimming lessons for ages 4-6 will cost $100, $125 for ages 7-9 and $125 for ages 10-plus. A private lesson will cost $50 and Discover Scuba has a $75 fee.
A resolution was approved to submit an application to the T-Mobile Hometown Program for a $50,000 grant to fund enhancement of public spaces and authorizing community development director Reed Aichholz to submit the form.
According to a memo, the city has been researching the revitalization of Atoka, Denison, McKinney and Sulphur Springs who have had success.
“The City of Durant has been collaborating with many citizens, and several community organizations discussing the desire/need for more downtown outdoor community space … green space has been repeatedly demonstrated to have positive economic impacts on property values, retail business activity and investments, sales tax revenue, spendable income by reducing transportation costs and, citizen’s ability to increase their income as a result of improved access to education and employment opportunities,” the memo states.
If the grant is approved, it would fund transforming 14,000 square feet of Market Square and the purchase of bollards along Third Avenue.
An overland drainage easement for a storm water drainage pipe on Bryan County EMS property was approved.
According to a memo, the city has a storm drain line that will be relocated so Bryan County EMS can build its new building. The easement is so the city will have access to the drain line on county property.
A request from OG&E for an underground easement at Country Club Drive and Cemetery Road was approved. This will allow OG&E to install, operate and maintain conduits, wires, cables and other things for the transmission of electricity and communication messages.
The council also approved the following agenda items: - Approved a final plat request by Dale Goad Construction at 49th Avenue south of the railroad tracks for the development of 18 light industrial lots.
- Approved a request by Monica Uber for property at 711 Blanchard to be rezoned from C-2 to R-2.
-Approved a final plat request for Sunstar LLC for property near Larkspur Lane.
- Approved a request by Kain Smith to rezone property on Rodeo Road from A-1 to R-1 with the intent to plat/ subdivide in the future.
- Approved a six-month extension for the Rodeo Hills Phase I plat near South Ninth and Rodeo Road.
- A $25,255 bid from Robert Self for agricultural hay lease at Durant Regional Airport was approved. This is an annual contract.