City green lights street repair

(Editor's note: This article includes updates to correct some errors)

The city voted to authorize the city manager to enter into agreement with Stephens County District 3 for street repairs within the city limits of Comanche, payable with funds from an ASCOG REAP Grant in the amount of $45,000 and encumber matching funds of $5000 from the Street and Alley Fund.

In other grant news, the council authorized the fire chief to apply for assistance to firefighters grant (AFB) to purchase a new airvac system for $68,000.

The city council also heard from its auditor, Chris Helms, on the audit of the 2022-23 fiscal year. The council was told it was a clean audit with no issues found.

In other business, the council passed an ordinance to amend the weekend interment fees and an emergency clause was also passed to allow the new fees to begin immediately. The interment fee for Monday through Thursday will be $400 and a $600 interment fee on Friday and Saturday as well as holidays. There will also be a $100 cremains fee on Friday, Saturday and holidays.

The weekend fee is a $100 increase, while the weekday remains unchanged.

The council also voted to accept the bid of D. Owen Construction in the amount of $989,160 as the lowest and best bidder for the Highway 53 Sewer Relocation Project.

On personnel matters, the city council renewed the employment contract with Chuck Ralls, city manager.

In the Public Works Authority portion of the meeting, the trustees accepted and approved the 2022-23 annual audit presented by the auditor.

In the Comanche Land Management Authority meeting, members amended changing of the purchase price for the property between old and new Highway 81 due to an acreage discrepancy, which increased from 241.67 acres to 247.24 acres in accordance with the survey, which also changes the down payment from $87,012 to $89,007.

The trustees then went into a 16-minute executive session to discuss property.

Upon returning to business, the trustees voted to authorize the city manager to trade 104 Brown Ave. for the old school property. They also voted to declare a lot behind Cowtown Corner as surplus and instructed the city manger to dispose of it in the best interest of the city.