City takes steps to put in charging stations

The Comanche Public Works Authority made a move last week that could eventually lead to more traffic through downtown. The council approved a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) for a couple of electric car charging stations.

“We should generate revenue for the city,” said Chuck Ralls, city manager. “While their car is charging people will have a chance to walk around town and spend money.”

It could potentially bring several out-of-town visitors through the city. The next closest charging stations are in Chickasha and Ardmore.

“We had an advantage of having two major highways run through town,” Ralls said. “People map out their travel by seeing where the charging stations are.”

To help encourage electric vehicle owners to come through Comanche, Ralls said he would like to not charge those using it for at least the first year, maybe longer.

ODEQ will provide $88,140 for the project with Comanche providing $6,640 in cash from the capital improvement fund and $10,988 in labor.

While the addition of the charging station could benefit local businesses, residents received some good news as well. The city is going to receive a 2.5 percent cut in its electric rate from the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA), which will in part be passed along to city customers.

“We will take a portion of that and give back to the customers and we will take the fuel adjustment cost and lock it in,” Ralls said.

That will run through at least December and January bills and extend as far as March potentially.

It was not all good news on the utility front, however. It was discovered the city lost $22,000 in sewer rates, but it is not going to be passed on to customers.

“I don’t want to raise rates, right now,” said Smokey Dobbins, chairman.

In other business, the PWA had to cancel its contract with Thornton, Musso & Bellemin, Inc. for the upgraded chemical optimization program at the water plant because of a possible conflict of interests. They then agreed to enter an agreement with LeBlanc Engineering for the job.

The trustees also approved the city manager to negotiate the South Central Oklahoma Environmental Association (SCOEA) contract. Ralls said he wanted to see about getting Waste Connections to use lighter trucks because of road damage the heavier trucks cause and for the city to get a transfer station.

In the city council portion of the meeting, the council members adopted an ordinance to declare the property at 1200 Texas Ave. as surplus. They then contracted the transfer of the property to Scissortail Meat Company, LLC, which will be official in 30 days.

In other business, the council:

n Approved the purchase of a freezer owned by the Byford Estate and approved to make an offer for the vacant lot owned by the estate across from the Dr. Pepper sign downtown

n Approved a new health insurance policy for city employees

n Approved a one-time salary adjustment for employees

n Approved a reimbursement to volunteer firefighters in the amount of $6,000 for personal expenses incurred in 2020