Comanche fireworks could be canceled this year

Inflation and increasing prices have impacted everyone, including businesses and government, which was evident at last week’s city council meeting.

After the city’s traditional July 4th fireworks show was saved a couple of years ago by private donations, the show is once again on the verge of being canceled.

City manager Chuck Ralls said the cost for this year would be $14,000 after being $8,000 a few years ago and $11,000 last year.

Ralls said the city does not make much in the way of sales tax or other business because people come from out of town, see the show and leave without stopping for gas or food. 

The fireworks account currently has just under $3,000 in it, which means the $11,000 balance would fall on the city, which Ralls pointed out would be equivalent to almost half of an employee’s salary. 

Ralls said it would cost each household an additional $1.75 a month if they added it to the city’s utility bill.

While not wanting to cancel the show, increase utility bills, or pay out a large amount of funds for a show lasting less than 30 minutes, the council members voted to donate its usual $3,000 and hope to raise the remaining $8,000 by private donations. Ralls said he would need the funds by the end of the month because he would have to send the order in for the fireworks no later than April 1.

The council also voted to enter into an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)  for relocation of electric lines involved in the Highway 53 expansion project at an estimated cost $201,000. The state would cover 100 percent of the cost. Ralls said most of the work would center around the school and Village Plaza.

They also awarded the bid for the water line relocation project to Grade Works Construction, a company out of Edmond, that was $200,000 cheaper than the next bid.

In another matter, the city agreed to allow Insight, an economic development company, to list the city as a potential customer for its new land being purchased for businesses looking for commercial properties. The company receives requests from companies looking for land and Insight finds property that meets the qualifications the companies are looking for. Even if a commercial business could be found, the city would keep a sizeable portion of the land reserved for residential use. 

The council took no action on an agenda item in regards to the Field of Dreams Land Use Agreement with the school district. 

“There was a conversation about the fact that the school is using four fields at the Field of Dreams and they’re not compensating or reimbursing the city for expense, electric, water use, the fields, things like that,” Ralls said. “So, should they? Since most schools have their own fields and do their own upkeep and things like that, should they be covering some of this cost or should we continue to let them use it at no charge?”

Mayor Smokey Dobbins said to leave it as it is for the time being, and vice mayor Wanda Moore added at least until the end of the school year.

“I’d still like for them to come and talk to me about it,” said council member Sharon Rounds. “That way we can still negotiate or whatever we have to do, but I agree with Smokey about tabling it.”

The council also approved applying for a CENA grant for the nutrition center to help pay for food and supplies.

On another matter, they declared the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria police car as surplus and for the city manager to dispose of it in the best interest of the city.

Ralls said the vehicle hasn’t been used in six to seven months, but still works, so the city should be able to get a little money for it.

The city also approved to accept sealed bids for the water plant generator to be paid for with grant funds.

In a special called meeting on Monday, the council passed two resolutions for indebtedness for the land purchase.

In the Public Works Authority portion of the March 12 meeting, trustees voted to go into an agreement with Centennial Law Group to apply for a state clean water grant with the Oklahoma Water Resource Board for replacement of the S. 2nd Street sewer lift station and force main. If the city receives the grant, attorney fees would come out of the grant awarded.