A harrowing experience involving town employees was still fresh on the minds of the Hennessey Town Board last week.

“They thought they could dig far enough away from the line that it wouldn’t cave in on them.”

That’s what Hennessey Town Administrator told town trustees at their Thursday night meeting. Her comment was in response to Trustee David Jones who’d asked for an update about the Oct. 16 water plant incident.

That was when a waterline buried three feet deep caused water and sand to flood the hole where two employees were working. It took more than two hours before fire and oilfield workers were able to rescue them.

Each of them had a foot stuck in what rescuers referred to as quicksand.

Tillman made her comments after Jones asked for an “update” during an agenda item for “Council Person’s Comments.”

Water Superintendent Alyssa Kubat and Kyle Watkins were taken by ambulance to an Enid hospital where Watkins stayed and Kubat was released.

“How is Kyle?” asked Jones.

“I can’t tell you that,” Tillman said. (ADA requires employers to maintain the confidentiality of an employee’s medical condition and Jones had asked during a public meeting.)

Tillman also said that Kubat is on vacation leave.

Jones asked if she’d reported the incident to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“As required, I reported it to our workers compensation insurance,” she said.

Water Plant/Well Purchases Tillman mentioned the cave-in during discussion of purchasing a “trench box for safety purposes” and “purchase of a security camera at the water treatment plant.”

Tillman said employees will get training on the trench boxes and will have to be certified to use them.

“They will work with DEQ and OSHA on training,” she said.

The security camera installation and cost is $4,300 from Scout Systems, Stillwater.

The trench box cost is $14,711.40 from Ozark Hazer & Shoring, Oklahoma City.

Also approved was a $16,500 quote from Hennessey Metal Building Systems to make pump house repairs at wells 4, 5 and 6.

All three purchases were unanimously approved.

Trustees at the Meeting Mayor Clif Vogt and Trustees Bert Gritz, Jones and Randy Bohnstedt were present at the meeting. Absent was Vice Mayor Harold Shaw.

Wastewater Disposal Rates OK’d

An ordinance setting rates for wastewater disposal was approved by trustees with an emergency clause.

That means it goes into effect immediately after the ordinance is published in the Kingfisher Times & Free Press.

Rates are $250 per load for septic tank trucks and $25 per vehicle for recreational and similar vehicles. Portable toilet waste will not be accepted.

Tillman said instead of using a key system it would be best for a customer to call when they need to get in.

“We have an employee on-call, but if you’re dumping at 4 in the morning that’s another matter,” she said.

Contact Town Hall (405-853-2416) for more information.

Backflow Preventer Valves Now Required

Another ordinance with an emergency clause was approved to require back flow preventer valves in all new builds and with other certain guidelines.

Valves cost between $120-$140, said Bryan Burch, sewer superintendent.

The preventer can keep water and sewage from backing up into your house and “save you from having a lot of damage to your home,” Burch said.

CD Rates

Treasurer Shelley Burch provided CD money market rates from Community State Bank, F&M, Banc-First and Tinker Federal Union as she’d been asked to do.

She was told that Inter-Bank would match any rate they received.

“Since InterBank is competitive, then we should stay with them,” said Bohnstedt, who then made a motion to that effect and it was unanimously approved.

Vogt said he, Shaw and Tillman met with Inter-Bank that morning and were told that the town is one of their top customers.

Employee Incentives Put on Hold

In past years, employees have been given incentive bonuses: $500 plus $50 for each additional year worked for full-time employees and a flat $150 for part-time employees (but not seasonal employees).

“What is our financial outlook,” Gritz asked Tillman.

She said they are still working on those records.

“I’m feeling uneasy about finances,” said Jones and suggested they discuss it again next month.

The item was tabled and Tillman said they would have a special meeting in about two weeks on that and other items.

Note: Last year Trustees used federal ESSER (COVID-19 funds) for those incentive bonuses.

Employee Insurance Approved Health insurance for employees got quick board approval when trustees learned it will only go up .85% for 2024.

That’s compared with a 2% hike at the start of this year for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.

The town pays for the insurance for 15 employees and that monthly cost will be $11,841.46 starting Jan. 1.

Pavilion Report

From the audience, Jack Quirk said the pavilion had arrived and will go up soon. He said Thurmond-Mc-Glothlin will donate the paint (black) and will paint it which saves the town about $7,000.

Trustee Reports State Audit — Jones asked for an update about the state audit and Tillman said they’d called the day before and requested bank deposit registers and W-2 forms.

Accusations — Bohnstedt said he was accused of being paid as a firefighter and as a town trustee. “I have not been paid by the fire department since I came on the town board,” he said. “And I will not.” Note: The mayor receives $125 a month and the vice mayor and other trustees get $75 a month and firefi ghters $15 an hour.

Compensation for Volunteer Firefighters and Trustees — Gritz said the board needs a legal opinion on that, but in 1978 or 1979 he was told it wasn’t a problem that someone who is paid as a firefighter may also be paid by the town as a trustee. He said many firefi ghters have served on the town board and as mayor. He mentioned James Matousek, Tim Riddle, Terry Berkenbile, Tom Streck and others.

Simunek Property — Jones said Richard Simunek told him he’s working on appraisal of his 11 lots (south of the pavilion) so he can transfer that property to the town.

Library Committee — Jones asked what progress that committee was making. Quirk said the last few meetings that he and the chairman (Kevin Hopkins) were the only ones there.

Jones said he would contact Hopkins.

Auditorium Leaks — Jones said he was told the auditorium roof is leaking. Trustees discussed those repairs a couple of months ago, said another board member. Tillman said she’d check on it.