July 22, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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y Serving ; Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Wednesday, July 22, 202 Commissioners approve bids for multipurpose center By Don Munsch, Editor nicipal League website. Elk City City Commissioners approved bids last week for The ad will cost $10 for three months. Strategic Govern- the indoor, multipurpose activity center to be built at Ackley ment Resources charged much more for its service: $24,900. Park West. With that fee, the city obviously would get more assistance At the Industrial Authority meeting on July 15, held just to help in its search for finding a new city manager, includ- after the city commission meeting adjourned, commission- ing, among other features, interviews with commissioners ers went into an executive session and then after coming or any stakeholders to find out what they are looking for in a back into regular session, they approved the bids received new leader for the city. for the indoor activity center, a Community Action Project But Mayor Nick Archer said he had reservations about us- Plans project. City commissioners also preside over the In- ing Strategic Government Resources, especially because of dustrial Authority. The city received activity center bids two its cost. He said those kind of resources could be better al- weeks ago, and those bids came in well under budget, in- located for, say, a search for an economic development posi- terim City Manager Tom Ivester said. tion. The total for construction is close to $12.5 million, with “J think that would be a more prudent use of city funds,” the bids coming in at a little under $10.6 million and the Archer said. 4 : Da a rest of the amount being bond fees, contingency fees and Shortly after some discussion, commissioners then voted construction management fees, Ivester said. There were 122 to approve the OML job listing. Donna McNaught, children’s librarian, left, total bids, with 31 bid packages and 32 companies or sub- In other developments, commissioners approved a re- and DeAun Ivester, library director, stand in contractors working on the different projects, which cover placement motor for a John Deere Model 1570 front desk front of the wall of honor in the children’s everything from flooring to asphalt to electrical. Anadarko mower for $13,333.21 from Western Equipment. library at the Elk City Carnegie Library. The Dozer & Trucking received the dirt work contract and Cul- During his city manager’s report, Ivester discussed the wall of honor is for participants in the ver Electric got the electrical contract, Ivester said. bridge replacement on the east end of 3rd Street, not far library’s new book program. Staff photo by Construction is expected to begin this fall. from the police station. Actual construction of the bridge Don Munsch. “We're thrilled,” Ivester said about the bids coming under will probably start in late August or September. budget. “If there is one good thing coming out of this pan- demic, it’s we’re almost $1 million under the budget with all Library begins Phase one of the work being done at the Elk Creek bridge on 3rd Street has started, with preliminary moving of the util- reading initiative the add-ons.” ity lines is being done now. This is a state highway project Some companies bid lower than they normally would be- that requires barricades to be erected a certain distance from cause they needed the work, Ivester said. the site itself because the state requires particular measures Also July 15, the commission approved purchasing an ad- vertisement for a new city manager on the Oklahoma Mu- aimed at helping to be in place, Ivester said. The state has up to 12 months to See Center page 2. young children Former Elk City basketball player By Don Munsch, Editor reflects on camp, Career Research has shown a parent reading to a child benefits children in numerous ways, from not just building their learning and reading skills but also helping their social and emotional development as well. Former Elk City High School Elk City Carnegie Library endeavors to promote strong basketball player Cade early literacy skills. The library is encouraging parents Davis now plays basketball and caregivers to read 1,000 books to their newborns, in- overseas, including this fants and toddlers before they begin school. past season in Malaysia. The new program, called “1,000 Books Before Kinder- Davis was in Elk City last garten,” has started at the Elk City Carnegie Library. The week to hold a basketball project is a nationwide initiative with a simple concept, camp for children and teens. the library stated in a release. Cade Davis Photo courtesy of @max9_ “Parents and caregivers are encouraged to pick up lots By Don Munsch, Editor basektball. Mug shot courtesy of books to read, or reread, to their little ones,” the release Cade Davis aspired to of ASEAN Basketball League. stated. “The goals are to promote reading readiness for play basketball at a high kids entering kindergarten, instill a lifelong love of read- level, including for the ing and encourage parent and child bonding.” NBA, since he was a boy See Reading page 2. growing up in Elk City. His dream has taken him around the world, and for the last few summers, he has come home to Elk City to conduct a basketball skills camp. Davis, a 2007 graduate of Elk City High School, now lives in Oklahoma City, at least during the summer, when he’s not overseas. He played basketball at the University of Oklahoma before launching his pro career, which has taken him to Europe and most recently to Malaysia. Last week, he directed his camp at the Pioneer Center. Matt Gibson assisted in coaching at the camp, which was for boys and girls. Gibson has played in Mexico, Venezuela and Europe. “The camp went excellent,” Davis said in a telephone in- terview. “We had about 30 in our first group, which was first through fifth grade, and we had 20 in our second group, which was sixth through all the way to 12th.” The camp is conducted in Elk City, but Davis said he might consider expanding the camp to other places in the I. = » - = = = _— ~ future. Joel Bieber of Edmond. , right, and Harold Sibert of Altus, left, managed tables at the G& “T enjoy giving back to the community,” Davis said, de- Promotions gun show Saturday at the Elk City Convention Center. The gun show, held scribing why he holds the camp. “So many people there Saturday and Sunday, featured more than firearms, as Bieber and some other merchants sold See Davis page 2. other items, such as coins, in Bieber’s case. Staff photos by Don Munsch. Weather ) Vol. 118, No. 64 Mail delivery View online ALAA AC tomorrow / 74 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com