Recently retired Kingfisher Power Plant manager Winchester Smith was recognized at Monday night’s city commission meeting for more than 16 years of service.

City Manager Dave Slezickey presented Smith with a novelty desk lamp constructed with a working electrical meter.

“Winchester has given us a lot of years of reliable service and has done a good job training the younger guys (Luke Guthrie and Joey Maschino) to keep the plant running,” Slezickey said.

Mayor Roxie Alexander was joined at the commissioners’ table by Vice Mayor Wendell Prim and commissioners Geoff Covalt and Kyle Mecklenburg.

The board has been operating one person short since last month’s resignation of newest commissioner Ryan Deatherage. Commissioners decided last month to let voters decide who fills the remainder of Deatherage’s term at the regular municipal election in April, rather than appointing a replacement.

At Monday’s meeting, commissioners adopted a resolution formally calling for the election for Tuesday, April 4, with the candidate filing period set for Monday- Wednesday, Feb 6-8.

In addition to electing someone to fill the three years of Deatherage’s unexpired term, voters also will choose a candidate to replace Prim, whose second four-year term ends this year.

Prim is barred by the city charter from seeking a third consecutive term, but he may file for a future vacant seat after a lapse of at least a year, Slezickey said.

Commissioners also approved a fee agreement with MA+ Architecture, the Oklahoma City firm selected to design the new fire station.

The city purchased just over three acres of property from the estate of Glenn Beebe at 1309 S. Main St. as the site for the new facility.

The building is anticipated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet in size and contain the following elements: a four-bay garage, entryway, offices, conference room, administrative offices, radio room, fitness area, break room, public and private restrooms, sleeping space and shared restroom for up to six firefighters and a solo sleeping space with a private restroom, living area, dining area, kitchen and pantry, laundry, tool storage and mechanical room, electrical room, storm shelter and patio.

The architecture firm also presented a preliminary design, documentation drafting and project bidding timeline with an estimated construction start date in January 2024 and completion in May 2025.

The fee schedule approved by commissioners for the architecture firm is 8% of the total construction cost, plus reimbursable expenses.

“We won’t know the actual dollar amount until we award a contract and the project cost is nailed down,” Slezickey said.

Covalt, who is an engineer, said the timeline laid out by the architects seems realistic, given the scope of the project.

Commissioners also approved an official endorsement of another grant application by Kingfisher Trails Inc., which will provide for the finishing touches of the soon-to-be-completed system of trails which will circumnavigate the city.

KingfisherTrails Inc. President John Gooden handed out maps and gave a brief synopsis of the 20-year history of the trails project.

“It’s an exciting time for Kingfisher Trails,” Gooden said. “We’ve nearly accomplished our master plan and we’re getting really close with Newfield Park – that has been a dream of mine for ages.”

Dubbed TACO 23 (an acronym for Trails Around the City Optimization), the latest grant would provide for installation of mile markers, maps and informative signs, as well as maintenance equipment.

Three commissioners also voted to approve a grant application by the Kingfisher Airport Authority to finance an engineering study for further expansion of the runway.

Awarded through the Oklahoma Aviation Commission, the grant would pay for 95% of the study’s cost, with a 5% match required from the city, an amount that is not expected to exceed $5,000.

Mecklenburg, who owns a plane housed at the airport, abstained from the vote, stating he wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

In response to a question from Covalt, Mecklenburg said the runway expansion is the first of several improvements planned that would allow the airport to accommodate small corporate jets.

As an item of new business, the commission approved an application by the fire department for an “Assistance to Firefighters” grant through FEMA, which would finance the purchase of either a new engine or a new ambulance.

The grant would cover 95% of the cost with the city providing a 5% match.

“We like those 5% matching grants when we can get them,” Slezickey said, a reference to typical grants which require a match of at least 20%.