WAURIKA — Waurika could be making some residential land available for purchase, after the City Commission approved proceeding with abatement of four properties inside the city limits.

During a regular meeting Monday night, the commissioners voted unanimously to proceed to the final stage of the abatement process on properties on Meridian Street, Broadway and West H.

Specifically, Abatement Officer and City Clerk Mark Bryant said the properties are:

- 809 N. Meridian, owned by Randy Lee Houston;

- 818 N. Meridian, owned by Billy Frank Carroll;

- 323 W. Broadway, owned by Shirley Yates; and,

- 107 West H, owned by Fred Hudson.

Bryant told the commissioners there are dilapidated structures on each of the properties and that the owners had each been duly notified of the need to remove those structures and clean up the properties. However, none of the owners had fulfilled previous abatement notices, which brought the process to the final stage.

“All of them had been notified that the dilapidated structures needed to be removed or fixed, and the only one who came in to appeal was Randy Houston, who wanted more time,” Bryant noted.

The situation with the Houston property and a dilapidated mobile home on the property first arose nearly two years ago. Because conditions of the abatement process had not been met, Bryant said, when Houston asked for an extension the requested was denied by City Manager Chuck Brown.

Making a motion to continue the abatement process, Mayor Gayle Johnson said, “I move we continue the abatement and do whatever the city manager decides is appropriate to clean up the properties. Then we will bill the property owners for the clean up and file liens on the properties.”

By doing so, the city would acquire the land, which could later become available or purchase at a public auction.

The commissioners also considered continuing the abatement process on a property at 819 N. Meridian, which is owned by Paul Courture.

However, Bryant said he had spoken with Couture, who requested an extension, with the intent of signing over the property to the city.

“Mr. Courture has paid his back taxes and he and his wife would like to deed the property over to the city,” Bryant said. “If he does that, we can clean up the property and go out for bids and sell it.”

With that in mind, the commissioners voted unanimously to table action on the Couture property to their regular meeting in August.

Waurika Elementary School Principal Cody Simmons and Superintendent Roxie Terry presented a request to the commissioners asking that two streets leading to the elementary school be declared one way streets.

Simmons said making Education Drive and part of George Brown St. one way would allow the district to create a more organized system for students to be dropped off by parents and buses at the start of the school day and picked up at the end of the day.

Simmons said there was also a safety factor in the district’s request for the change.

While Education Drive and part of George Brown would become one way, Little Eagle Drive on the south and west sides of the school building would remain a two-way street. Simmons said that would accommodate delivery trucks arriving and exiting the school.

Johnson felt the change would “simplify things” for parents and the school administration. She also asked Street Supervisor Bill Ray and Police Chief Gary Whittington about the signage necessary to convert the two streets to one way. Whittington said One Way and Do Not Enter signs would need to be installed.

Vice Mayor Jim Bernard said he did not favor the plan. “I don’t want to make it one way, because it’s been that way for 20 year and there will be people who won’t follow the system,” he said. “There will always be an enforcement problem there, no matter what you do.”

Ultimately, the commissioners voted 4-1 to approve making the change, with Bernard voting no.

Later in the meeting, the commissioners went into executive session for 14 minutes, during which they discussed a property appraisal submitted by Shorty Brown on city-owned south of the city limits. The property is the site of the city’s former landfill.

Upon returning to regular session, the commissioners voted to take no action at this time.

In other action, the commissioners unanimously approved:

- Appointing Leo Liggett and Ann Peel to fill two vacancies on the Waurika Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, upon a recommendation by WHA Director Kimberly Gholson. The openings came when Liggett and Peel each completed three-year terms, and the reappointment means the pair will begin serving new three-year terms that will continue to June 30, 2013.

- The following purchase orders and claims: $23,329.71 on the General Fund; $11,560.82 on the Street & Alley Fund; $1,895.64 on the Rural Fire Fund; $300 on the Library State Aid Fund; $557.99 on the Literacy Fund; and, $142 on the Rock Island Depot Fund.

- Treasurer Gail Kelley’s report for the month of June.

- Minutes from a regular meeting on June 7 and a special meeting on June 14.

The commissioners and the Waurika Public Works Authority Board of Trustees each unanimously approved:

- A presentation by Hulme, Rahhal & Henderson of the audit for fiscal year 2008-09.

- Making payment to HBC, CPA for auditing and accounting service for FY 2009-10.

- Making payment of financial statements submitted by Hulme, Rahhal & Henderson for FY 2009-10.

In their regular meeting, the WPWA trustees voted to table an item to discuss moving meter deposit certificates of deposits (CDs) into the First Choice program at First Bank & Trust Co. of Waurika. That matter will be addressed at the August regular meeting.

The WPWA trustees also unanimously approved:

- Payment of purchase orders and claims on the WPWA Fund of $34,660.63.

- Treasurer Kelley’s report for June.

- Minutes from a regular meeting on June 7 and a special meeting on June 14.