Council member opposes fire protection at festival

Julie Yates

Pryor City Council approved providing equipment at Country Fever for fire protection services.

Mayor Jimmy Tramel told the council Tuesday that volunteer firefighters are being contracted through Country Fever Music Festivals to provide protection services in the event of a problem.

If the city pays the volunteer firefighters per call during Country Fever, it may cause Pryor’s volunteers to go over the statutory limits.

Volunteer firefighters, per state law, can make no more than $289.60 per month. Pryor volunteers make $16 each time they respond to a page.

Tramel said it would cost the city more in the long run if the fire department paged out firefighters for every call during the music festival. Tramel said a tanker and a brush truck will be on site at the music grounds. Volunteer and off duty paid firefighters will be on site who are

contracted through Country Fever Music Festivals.

According to Tramel, the Country Fever Music Festivals will pay the firefighters $15 per hour at Country Fever.

“They’re paying for the firemen,” said Tramel. “We’re not paying for the firemen.”

Fire Chief Tim Thompson said a 24-hour ambulance and a 16-hour ambulance will be stationed at the music grounds during the festival. Thompson said volunteer firefighters will be assisting with medical situations more than fire protection.

Thompson said he hates “to think we’re not putting the equipment out there for the benefit of the people” attending Country Fever.

“I think it is for the city’s benefit,” he said.

“Can we legally give

services away?” Councilman Drew Stott asked City Attorney Randy Elliott.

“I’m not sure we’re giving services away,” Elliott said. He told Stott the city is posting equipment where a problem is anticipated, just as ambulances travel around the county when there is a potential need.

“If we’re posting equipment, why do we need a contract?” Stott asked.

“The contract is to alleviate expenses to the city,” Elliott said. He continued to say the city has three choices: one, keep the equipment in town and page out for each run; two, keep the equipment at the music grounds and pay for all the personnel; or three, take the middle ground and station equipment where it may be

necessary.

Thompson said, “The forecast says it’s gonna be hot.”

The mayor pointed out that Country Fever is now the biggest sales tax base for the city.

Stott asked Thompson a final question. He asked if fire equipment would be provided if he wanted to set a structure on fire.

Thompson said the fire department is not going out every time someone wants to burn a structure. The fire chief said he feels Stott “is comparing apples and oranges, not apples and apples.”

The measure passed, with Stott voting against it.

Council approved the mayor’s committee assignments for the new fiscal year.

Members of the budget/personnel committee will be Garry Harris as chairman, Stott and Tony Smith, with Carolyn Wise as the alternate.

The insurance/ordinance committee will consist of Smith as chairman, Leonard Barnes and Wise, with Ronnie Sharp as alternate.

Sharp will be the chairman of the street/sanitation committee. Other members will be Roy Ray and Lucy Belle Schultz, with Stott as the alternate.

Lori Siever asked the council to consider allowing permits for fireworks within city limits July 4.

Siever said the fireworks would be small, such

as chickens, tanks or firecrackers.

“Nothing off the ground,” she said.

Siever said the fireworks must be shot in the street and only shot by people over 18 years old. Infractions would constitute a fine, so the city would make money if residents did not follow the regulations.

City Attorney Randy Elliott said the city has an ordinance stating that no fireworks are allowed in city limits. Elliott said to change the city statute would require a new

ordinance.

Because the process of approving a new ordinance can take several weeks, Tramel said there is not time before the Fourth of July to allow fireworks in city limits. The city may consider the issue for next year.

• Council approved an understanding allowing the Department of Human Services to use city property leased to Rogers State University. Elliott said the agreement between the DHS, RSU and the City of Pryor will allow DHS to expand their Mayes County office.

• Council approved a video server for the city at a cost of $4,450 from Digi Systems. Tramel said Digi Systems is the sole source provider because he could not find another server to meet the needs of the city. The server is an 8-gigabyte system.

• Council approved payments to The Bagby Company for the new animal shelter. Council approved a payment of $36,970.76 and a change order of $1,181.40. In addition, a final payment of $22,517.31 was tabled until July 7.

• Council accepted a proposal from Kolker and Kolker for 2009 year end services. The cost is $4,400 per month for July and August 2009, $1,900 a month for September, October and November 2009 and $600 per month for the remainder of the fiscal year. Council approved any budget transfers recommended by Ron Kolker, the city’s financial consultant.

• Pryor Fire Department will get 22 air packs with spare bottles from Wayest Safety for $93,684.80. The fire department is acquiring the self contained breathing apparatus through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The city is paying 5 percent of the cost, which comes to $4,684.24. Wayest Safety submitted the lowest quote. Other quotes received were from Casco at $96,117.90 and Chief Fire & Safety at $96,690.

• Council tabled approving Elliott to draft an ordinance on residential and commercial plats. The new ordinance would require all plats to be accompanied by a Phase 1 environmental assessment survey.

• Council approved reimbursing Pryor Youth Baseball $9,902.10 from the Hotel/Motel grant funds.

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