By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A City of Yukon contractor will make needed drainage improvements in the Westport Addition.
Brewer Construction Oklahoma will be paid $70,194.35 for drainage ditch repairs and erosion mitigation north of Kingsgate Road and Kingsgate Terrace. Brewer has a contract with the City of Yukon for paving, drainage, water, and sewer projects.
The Westport drainage project was first discussed in August at a city council work session. City engineer Robbie Williams recommended council members approve the work, which they did at their Nov. 2nd meeting.
“There is a 36-inch storm sewer pipe which flows onto a concrete flume and into the creek,” Williams explained in a memo to City Manager Tammy Kretchmar. “A large portion of the concrete flume has been undermined and is falling into the creek due to erosion of the creek bank and fallen trees into the creek channel.”
If this problem isn’t fixed, the city engineer warned the undermining would continue under the concrete flume and eventually into the 36-inch storm pipe.
Contractor crews will install a concrete manhole and another 80 feet of 36-inch pipe connected to the end of the existing pipe, Williams explained.
Damaged trees will be removed, and rock rip rap installed along the creek bank to mitigate the erosion.
THIS AND THAT …
In other business at its Nov. 2nd meeting, the Yukon City Council approved:
- A $18,238 change order to the City of Yukon’s 2020 Concrete and Asphalt Paving, Drainage, Water and Sewer Project contract to allow for tree removal in the Westport drainage ditch project. Tree blockage is creating scour and erosion of the channel near a storm sewer pipe. Revised contract amount is $1,283,526.05.
- A $21,000 fiscal year 2022 budget amendment to use PEST (Public Employees Sales Tax) funds to purchase Yukon Fire equipment. Fire Chief Shawn Vogt recommended buying emergency lighting and equipment ($11,809.28) for a newly purchased command vehicle, new workout equipment ($6,335) for the fire stations and a forcible entry training prop door ($1,995).
- Purchase of body camera units, software, hardware, and evidentiary video storage from WatchGuard Video for Yukon Police. Initial cost is $20,310 with $34,020 paid annually for five years. Police Chief John Corn said it could take six months to one year before the body cameras and equipment are received and ready for use.
WHO WILL IT BE?
Meanwhile, Yukon City Council members met for about 45 minutes in executive session Nov. 2 to discuss the employment and proposed compensation of a new municipal judge.
No action was taken after the meeting reconvened.
City officials are seeking a successor to longtime municipal judge George Ramey, who was no longer eligible to serve after moving to a home outside Yukon city limits.
Retired Canadian County District Judge Gary Miller is serving as Yukon’s interim municipal judge.
