Work on a storm sewer drainage project near the Cristo Rey Church and homes on Walnut to First streets is expected to start in about a week, said Tiffany Tillman, Hennessey’s town administrator at the board’s Thursday, Dec. 10 meeting.

The drainage issue was already on the board’s front burner, but heavy rains in late May aggravated problems by causing flooding from Oklahoma Avenue south on Walnut Street.

The work will be done by Young Contracting of Oklahoma City. It had the lowest of five bids at $178,605.75.

Young Contracting was approved by the town’s Oklahoma City engineering The Cowan Group.

The board also approved a $1,680 payment to NODA for administrative work to get a $65,098.33 REAP grant to help fund the project.

Phase 2 of the drainage project includes Third, Fourth and Fifth streets west of Mitchell Road.

No funding has been approved.

Both projects are estimated to cost about $300,000.

Present at the meeting

Vice Mayor Clif Vogt chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Bert Gritz, who is convalescing at a Midwest City facility after two weeks in ICU at Enid’s Integris Bass Baptist Hospital.

All three other board members were present: Wes Hardin, Keith Meek and Richard Simunek.

Staff present were Tillman, Clerk Kati Walters, Deputy Clerk Shelley Burch and Waste Water Superintendent/Reserve Police Capt. Bryan Burch.

COVID hit town hall, library

Town Hall was opened to the public last week after two weeks of drive-thru only service due to COVID-19 and the public library also opened last week after closing Nov. 20 for two weeks due to another employee who tested positive for COVID.

Grant for larger water lines

The board also accepted a 2021 $68,000 REAP grant to replace a 11/4-inch water line to a six-inch line on the west side of town.

It will start at 6th and Bonita streets and run to the alley and through the 7th Street alley. Water lines along Cimarron Street from 5th to 7th streets will also be replaced.

Total cost of the project is $130,196.67.

20 new water meters will be installed

Board members approved the $22,560 purchase of 20 automated water meters from Utility Technology Services, Oklahoma City.

They also agreed to pay Gradework Construction of Hennessey $2,500 each day for no longer than 10 days to install the meters.

“Many of them will replace old meters at the school,” said Tillman, who returned to work last week.

Fourteen school meters were on the list of 27 meters for replacement: Science building, auditorium, middle school gym, baseball field, football field, practice field, middle school, elementary, early childhood education building, new ball field, new bus barn and band field.

Also on the list: James Matthew Matousek’s home, Seaboard Farms, Hennessey Ready Mix, DJ Laundry, CHS, Pronto, Stallion, Copeland Services, Mustang, Quick RV, Chaparral (2), and a trailer park.

Simunek asked how many have been replaced, and Tillman said 700, and 300 more need to be replaced.

Two officers hired

The board hired Jeremiah Loper as a full-time police officer, and Dustin Musick as a reserve officer.

The action came after a 25-minute executive session to discuss the hirings.

Loper, 32, lives near Kingfisher and has worked as a jailer at the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office.

Musick lives in Enid, and is a former Hennessey police officer.

Both will be paid $15 an hour.

Employee bonuses approved

Again this year full-time town employees will be given a $500 bonus plus $50 for each year worked.

“Across the board,” parttime employees (including volunteer firefighters) will receive $150, the board unanimously decided.

Other business

Members decided to postpone their scheduled January community-wide meeting and board session to plan for the town’s future.

No date was set and Simunek said it was important that Gritz be able to meet with the group.

Meeting dates for 2021 were also scheduled and will continue to be the second Thursday of each month except in November when it will be changed to Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Simunek asked if Hennessey’s schedule would interfere with the school board.

Tillman said it shouldn’t because they are scheduled to meet on the second Monday of each month.