Beggs business owner and community supporter Summer Lamborn visited with the city council during its November meeting about improving downtown lighting.

Lamborn, owner of Kanokie Coffeehouse on Main Street, told council members downtown lighting isn’t very bright which she feels could be a safety issue, plus the light poles and fixtures are old and not very attractive. “This affects safety and morale, I think,” she said.

She shared there are currently two street lights on each side of every block on Main Street, adding representatives from OG&E, the community’s electric provider, proposed new light poles and fixtures. These include LED bulbs and adding a third pole on each block. She said the cost of each light pole and fixture is $17.39, totaling $104.34 for six lights. She pointed out this does not include the electricity to power the lights.

Continuing to discuss costs, she said she has been advised the most significant costs will be underground boring to lay the electric lines. Horizon Underground Boring, owned by Beggs Fire Chief Matt Cooperrider, was the only bid submitted and it was for $16,675, she reported.

Because of the costs, Lamborn suggested breaking the project into phases.

“Phase one would be the main businesses, like the block the coffee shop is on, the bank and the leather shop. Then, phase two would be the block the park is on, and then phases three and four could be going north and south on Broadway,” she said.

She acknowledged the council would need more information, especially regarding costs, before a decision could be made, but that she wanted to share with them what she has learned in working on this project. “I just feel Beggs is worth a facelift,” she said.

“I’m here to tell you I’m a proponent,” Mayor Roger Merrill said following Lamborn’s presentation. Merrill, Lamborn and community liaison Ali Herman all agreed there should be grants to help with funding the project, especially if it’s done in phases. Councilwoman Cindy Hubbell suggested appointing Lamborn as a community liaison for grant writing purposes.

Since the topic was only a discussion item on the agenda, no action could be taken.

In response to a resident inquiry, the council discussed amending city ordinances to possibly allow companion burials in the local cemetery. Companion burials are when a grave is opened allowing an urn with cremated remains to be interred there also. It was agreed any amendment would require the definition of ‘companion.’ Councilwoman Cindy Hubbell pointed out the companion would need to be included in city records, and on headstones. Also, would the remains be required to be human or could family pet remains be allowed to be buried there also. The topic was also listed as a discussion item, so no action could be taken, allowing the council to investigate the issue further and gather more information before addressing the issue at a later date.

In other action, the council approved removing retired City Clerk Doris Tharp and former council member Cody Burton as signatories on city accounts, and replacing them with city administrator Steve Barteau and current City Clerk Lohnnay Wade on all funding accounts.

Reconvening after a brief executive session, the council voted to hire Emily Ryan and Jake Palacio for positions in the dispatch center.

The council then heard from Police Chief John Palacio and Fire Chief Matt Cooperrider, who gave monthly reports on their departments’ activities.

Palacio reported on the number of calls his department received on a variety of matters, including assisting other agencies, alarms, domestic violence, abandoned vehicles and general information calls. He reported 45 traffic citations were issued, resulting in over $5,200 in fines.

Palacio reported the department received a report of a loaded gun being found on the side of a city street. “I’m so very grateful to that citizen for making that call,” he said, and encouraged anyone finding a gun to call the police department immediately.

Fire Chief Matt Cooperrider reported October was a quiet month for the department as the number of grass fires traditionally decreases this time of year. He also reported on the number and kinds of calls they responded to including one vehicle fire, two medical assist calls, and information calls. He added they received 10 rural calls.

Cooperrider also answered council members’ questions regarding the relationship between the Beggs Fire Department and Beggs Rural Fire Association. He acknowledged because of the names it can be confusing, but explained they are separate organizations that assist each other when needed. He highlighted the rural fire association has some 12,000-gallon tank trucks available to the municipal organization which helps keep home insurance rates lower for Beggs residents.

The council requested the chief develop a clear process for managing the burn permit system, including responsibilities for inspecting burn sites, along with establishing a way for citizens to directly contact and communicate with the rural fire association leadership, and suggested identifying an Email address. Cooperrider shared rural fire association members can pay their annual $50 dues online or by mail instead of paying them at Beggs City Hall.

Before the meeting adjourned, Beggs Chamber Executive Director Jan Watkins reminded the council and those attending the meeting that the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is Saturday, Nov. 15. The council then convened as the Beggs Public Works Authority (BPWA).

They approved removing retired City Clerk Doris Tharp and former councilmember Cody Burton as signatories from all accounts, and replacing them with city administrator Steve Barteau and current City Clerk Lohnnay Wade on BPWA accounts.

After reconvening from a brief executive session, the authority voted to hire Cash Coale.

They then accepted a bid from Clifford Power for proposed work on a BPWA generator for $9,866.32. It was pointed out this was the only bid received, and that ARPA funds will be used.

At the request of American Heritage Bank, the authority approved adding the subtitle “ARPA/ Booster Pump” to one of the BPWA funding accounts.

The Beggs City Council and Beggs Public Works Authority meet at 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month at Beggs City Hall.