Published: July 08, 2008 10:31 am            

Council backs zoning request

• Members also approve new fees for utilities

The Stillwater City Council voted Monday to rezone 900 E. Burris Road from residential single family to commercial shopping.

Frank Lewis, representing Prime Land Properties, spoke on behalf of the zoning change before the council and previously before the Stillwater Planning Commission. Lewis said when he was on the City Council in the 1980s, he worked on the commercial development of Perkins Road and said the council should take into account the future commercial goals of Stillwater when making their decision.

“We knew that that corridor would really be an economic engine,” Lewis said. “It has been a great, great generator of money over the last 20 years and what I am asking the council tonight is to consider what is this area going to look like in 10 years? We’ve got 2,800 homes in the area. Development is going to happen.”

The council also decided to table resolution No. 2008-12, which amended the terms and conditions of service for city utilities.

City Manager Dan Galloway said some issues still need to be worked on and final draft was not yet completed.

However, the council did unanimously approve a resolution establishing new fees and charges for utility services.

The changes include a $40 disconnection fee if a trip is made to the service address to disconnect service due to non-payment and a penalty fee of either 10 percent of a customer’s total utility balance outstanding at the time that each monthly bill is determined to be past due, or $2,500, whichever is less.

The council also went into executive session to discuss the purchase or appraisal of property, labor negotiations with the Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge No. 102, and the employment of Galloway.

When the council returned from executive session, members accepted the contract with the Fraternal Order of Police. The contract has a provision for a 3 percent salary increase.

The next council meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. July 21 in the Stillwater Municipal Building.

        

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