DECEMBER TOWN BOARD MEETING AGENDA AND LOCATION

AGENDA

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF BUFFALO WILL MEET AT 6:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008, AT THE BUFFALO THEATRE & COMMUNITY CENTRE, 104 E. WILLIAMS STREET, FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING

Call to order, roll call, declaration of a quorum being present

Discussion & possible action approving the Consent Agenda

Discussion & possible action on any items removed from the Consent Agenda

Discussion & possible action on engineering and DEQ’s inspection of wastewater system with status and changes to be made if appropriate

Discussion & possible action to approve and submit Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant proposals and adopt REAP grant resolutions

Discussion & possible action to pass & approve a resolution establishing the various rates to be charged at the Doby Springs Golf Course

Discussion & possible action passing & approving a resolution accepting the beneficial interest in the Buffalo Public Works Authority, a public trust, for and on behalf of the Town of Buffalo, Oklahoma

Discussion & possible action to approve and adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 18, Section 18-7(1)(a&b) and (2)(a&b) adopted by reference in Section 17-102 of the Buffalo Town Code, amending water rates; establishing an effective date; and providing for repealer and severability

Discussion & possible action to approve and adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 18, Section 18-3 adopted by reference in Section 17-102 of the Buffalo Town Code, amending sewer rates; establishing an effective date; and providing for repealer and severability.

Discussion & possible action to approve and adopt an ordinance amending Part 8, Health and Nuisances, Chapter 1, Nuisances and Health Generally, of the Buffalo Town Code, by adding a new section which shall be numbered 8-206; which shall be entitled “Penalty”; and which shall read as established in this ordinance; and providing for repealer and severability.

Discussion & possible action to approve and adopt an ordinance amending Part 2, Administration and Government, Chapter 1, Government Organization, of the Buffalo Town Code, by adding a new section which shall be numbered 2-112; which shall be entitled “Vice-Mayor”; and which shall read as established in this ordinance; and providing for repealer and severability.

Discussion & possible action to pass & approve a resolution for the sale of oil and gas lease

Discussion & possible action to approve the purchase of radar for the police department

Discussion & possible action to approve a cost of living increase for all salaried employees

Discussion & possible action to approve the paid holidays for the year 2009

Discussion & possible action on professional office space remodeling project

Appearances from the audience & remarks and inquiries by governing body members

Adjournment

JR HIGH BOYS AND GIRLS WIN TOURNAMENT !

The Jr. High Boys and Girls both won their championship games of the Ellis County Jr. High Tournament that were held Saturday at Fargo. Be sure and congratulate them for their fine accomplishments.

These are the DEQ rules violations for the Wastewater Treatment Facility of the Town of Buffalo

252:619-1-4. General requirements for total
retention lagoon systems
(d) Discharges prohibited. The permittee shall operate
and maintain the total retention lagoon system so that no
part of the system bypasses or discharges wastes or
wastewater. All such bypasses and/or discharges shall be
considered a violation of this Chapter and be subject to
enforcement as an unpermitted discharge to waters of the
State in violation of the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Act.
(2) Required response. Whenever a bypass or
discharge occurs, the permittee shall ensure that
immediate action is taken to stop, contain, clean up
and prevent recurrence of the bypass or discharge.

252:619-1-3. Permit requirements
Pursuant to OAC 252:656, permits are required for the
construction or modification of any non-industrial
wastewater total retention lagoon system.(2 violations)

252:619-3-1. Collection systems serving total
retention lagoons
(d) Pump stations. The permittee shall ensure that pump
stations are properly maintained and operated by doing the
following:
(1) Securing pump stations to prevent unauthorized
access.
(2) Maintaining the pumps in working condition.
(3) Keeping the screens free of debris to prevent
clogging.
(4) Maintaining the required alarms in working order.
(5) Maintaining the required back-up generators
and/or portable engine driven pumps in working order.
(6) Maintaining a complete set of operational
instructions, emergency procedures and maintenance
schedules.

252:619-3-2. Total retention lagoons
(a) Erosion control. The permittee shall prevent erosion
of the lagoon by:
(1) Maintaining a 1:3 slope on the inner and outer
dikes of the lagoon, unless permitted otherwise;

252:619-3-2. Total retention lagoons
(a) Erosion control. The permittee shall prevent erosion
of the lagoon by:
(3) Removing trees and deep-root vegetation from the
dikes and bottom of the lagoon in a timely manner to
maintain the integrity and stability of the lagoon;

First step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem.

The decisions regarding the sewer pond have been laid to rest on a fictitious table until the next board meeting in December. And possibly could continue to be ignored on into January of 2009. But the board did decide to go ahead and go for the golf course sprinkler system grant. The members of the golf association should be happy about that.

Have you ever seen the ESPN commercial that has a panel of four football experts sitting in on a Congressional hearing about global warming? They are a panel of experts in the wrong setting. This is the same scene with the town personnel and board regarding the lift station and its broken pumps, along with the sewer lagoons and their unlawful bypass. No one would ever expect this organization to be the experts and to have the solutions to this big of an ordeal. Yet the group continues to drag out all aspects of this situation further and further.

The pumps have to be replaced. The panel of experts is Meyers Engineering. Hire them to do a scope, design, and bid package for the modifications that need to be made to the lift station. Quit getting bogged down on these things that nobody expects this entity to have the solutions to. Hand the ball off to the professionals and let them do the work that needs to be done. Request their presence at the next meeting for discussions.

This is a very serious situation that needs to be addressed as efficiently as possible.(By Experts) To continue to allow raw sewage be piped to an area that it wasn't design to be piped to is beyond reason. These pumps have been broken since April of 2008. Millions of gallons of raw sewage have disappeared from storage in the lagoons. Along with the untold amounts of sewage that continued to leak away via the makeshift alterations. The capacity is an issue, the leakage is an issue, and the pumps are an issue. The fix for the pumps and redesign of the lift station is going to be expensive. The new capacity requirements for the sewage treatment facility is going to be expensive. And the fines from DEQ are going to be expensive. The new mayor is going to be in for a rude awakening come January when the DEQ issues their final verdict. Brace yourselves it is going to be expensive. It will be at least six figures. Not sure what that leading number will be. 1, 2, 3, 4......?

This is a very strong position that is being taken. Much rather eat crow than its alternative.

TOP TEN REASONS WHY THE PUMPS ON THE LIFT STATION HAVEN’T BEEN FIXED YET?

Number 10. Scared of the poo eating alligators!

Number 9. Waiting for the one year anniversary so we can have a party at Celebration Park.

Number 8. Waiting for Harpo, Chico, Groucho, & Zeppo to finish their Monkey Business.

Number 7. Not so fast there buckwheat…. are we sure they’re even broken?

Number 6. We can’t find the maintenance to-do list.

Number 5. Called “phone a friend” for the answers and got put on hold.

Number 4. We’re Conservative.......we don’t fix things.

Number 3. They’re not broke, it was an April Fools Joke!

Number 2. “You want me to touch that!”

And the number one reason why the pumps on the lift station haven’t been fixed yet?
Happy Holidays! We’re buying everyone septic tanks for Christmas!

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON ENGINEER AND DEQ’S INSPECTION OF WASTEWATER SYSTEM WITH STATUS AND CHANGES TO BE MADE

AGENDA

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF BUFFALO WILL MEET AT 6:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008, AT THE BUFFALO PUBLIC LIBRARY, 11 E. TURNER STREET, FOR A SPECIAL MEETING


CALL TO ORDER/ DECLARATION OF A QUORUM BEING PRESENT

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON REAP GRANT PROPOSALS
AND ADOPTION OF GRANT RESOLUTIONS

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE DEPT. OF
TOURISM GRANT FOR THE GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON SANTA CLAUS DAY

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON ENGINEER AND DEQ’S
INSPECTION OF WASTEWATER SYSTEM WITH STATUS AND
CHANGES TO BE MADE

REVIEW & APPROVAL OF A BUILDING PERMITS
1. LEWIS CARPENTER 2. COLLEENA MORGAN 3. LENNES JONES

DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
SPACE REMODELING PROJECT

APPEARANCES FROM THE AUDIENCE & GOVERNING
BODY REMARKS

ADJOURNMENT

Positive Things Taking Shape

Except for one loud-mouthed remark from the husband of a non-voting town official the board meeting went smoothly and it appears that positive things could be taking shape. To find out what happened check the comments.