Speaker 1: With city council. You know, you've had two meetings, two
Speaker 1: official meetings so far. You had you had a workshop
Speaker 1: kind of an orientation as well that was still open
Speaker 1: to the public, but actually going in making decisions. You've
Speaker 1: had two official meetings so far, and you and I've
Speaker 1: chatted a little bit. It's it's been a you tell me,
Speaker 1: it's been a a little bit of a learning experience
Speaker 1: for you as well, right.
Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely, Just as I was saying earlier, every day
Speaker 2: is uh, well really finding out how much I.
Speaker 1: Don't know, uh, just trust me. I I do that
Speaker 1: every day as well.
Speaker 2: Yeah, So it's it's definitely been educational all the way around,
Speaker 2: and have just you know, appreciated people's patients as we're
Speaker 2: trying to learn the ropes and figure out how to
Speaker 2: navigate this and try to do.
Speaker 1: What's best for Martinsville. Absolutely absolutely, and I think that
Speaker 1: that's what all of our council members have in common.
Speaker 1: It's the first of all, the willingness to serve and
Speaker 1: the willingness to do, even with disagreement, what you feel
Speaker 1: is best for the City of Barlowsville. And uh, this
Speaker 1: last meeting in January, it was a kind of touch
Speaker 1: and go there for a little bit. And uh, you know,
Speaker 1: one specific item that that that came up was the
Speaker 1: the grant from from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for
Speaker 1: the Barlowsville Public Library that served to pay the salary
Speaker 1: of a of an assistant there who does a literacy
Speaker 1: program specifically on citizenship classes in bilingual education. Now, that
Speaker 1: ended up in a two to two stalemate on both
Speaker 1: sides of the vote. And and I know you've had
Speaker 1: some time to think a little bit about.
Speaker 2: That, Larry, Yes, absolutely, what I what I really wish
Speaker 2: I had had seen coming with that. I well, first off,
Speaker 2: well something I kind of listed there that I'd like
Speaker 2: to talk about. I'll jump down to this US to
Speaker 2: come back. But is preparation for our meetings. So you know,
Speaker 2: we get the packet comes out on either Thursday or
Speaker 2: Friday before the meeting that anybody can go out there
Speaker 2: and see. And so we we get those and we're
Speaker 2: trying to go through all of that and and digest
Speaker 2: all that's gone.
Speaker 1: A small document I think the last one to think,
Speaker 1: like four hundred and fifty pages.
Speaker 2: Yeah, there's there's quite a bit out there, and so
Speaker 2: trying to read through the details of that. I you know,
Speaker 2: I sent several questions back to our city manager there,
Speaker 2: Mike Bailey, and he was quick to respond and get
Speaker 2: me answers to those, which really helped. And and up
Speaker 2: until I think Monday afternoon, I knew exactly you know,
Speaker 2: where I was headed as we as we went into
Speaker 2: that meeting, and so but I got some new information
Speaker 2: and someone questioning, hey, you know this this library grant thing,
Speaker 2: that's a that's even though it comes through the Oklahoma
Speaker 2: Department of Life, Berryers is is granted from the federal level.
Speaker 2: And uh, the intent with that program is for those
Speaker 2: who are here legally. And so that question arose in
Speaker 2: the meeting. Uh, And so it seemed right to me
Speaker 2: at the time, you know, hey, we should we should
Speaker 2: be requesting some sort of id to to determine for
Speaker 2: sure that someone's here legally before they take advantage of
Speaker 2: the services. And then when that didn't pass due to
Speaker 2: a stalemate, I wish I had thought at that point,
Speaker 2: or maybe even before then, to say, hey, let's table
Speaker 2: this until next month so we can get more information
Speaker 2: and understand more about this program and and really what
Speaker 2: we're dealing with, and and so uh uh but but
Speaker 2: we didn't do that, so uh it it failed. Uh
Speaker 2: and uh definitely I learned that you can get a
Speaker 2: lot of people up uh in in their passion about
Speaker 2: things just by one word of either yes or no.
Speaker 2: And so so I got a lot of feedback and
Speaker 2: and do UH definitely appreciate that. I mean, all feedback
Speaker 2: is a gift and uh and that's that's helpful.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 2: And so I had a lot of emails come into
Speaker 2: my council inbox. I saw a lot of activity there
Speaker 2: on social media and uh in which I'm still learning
Speaker 2: to navigate. Never never did social media before this campaign.
Speaker 2: So uh, guy with no social media, that's right, Yes,
Speaker 2: that's right. Uh And so uh so, you know, taking
Speaker 2: in all of that, and then also had the opportunity
Speaker 2: to talk with Kylie there at the library as well
Speaker 2: and to understand a little more about the program.
Speaker 1: And so.
Speaker 2: As it stands with with rules of order, whoever has
Speaker 2: to be someone who helped defeat uh something in order
Speaker 2: to bring that back up for reconsideration at a other
Speaker 2: council meetings. So that's where I've recommended that be brought
Speaker 2: back up. It's it's on the agenda for the next
Speaker 2: meeting and so we'll get to get that so that
Speaker 2: we don't lose that grant and to h and to
Speaker 2: make sure we're in compliance. Everything that I can gather
Speaker 2: so far says we are, because there's there's actually in
Speaker 2: speaking with Kylie, there's actually a fifty page report that
Speaker 2: they have to turn in every year to not only
Speaker 2: give statistics in that sort of thing with who's gone
Speaker 2: through the program, but to actually share stories of of
Speaker 2: how you know, so and so did this, And I
Speaker 2: don't know that they necessarily share names, but to say, hey,
Speaker 2: you know, we're we've led people successfully through this program.
Speaker 2: There's a lot of benefit being had in it. And
Speaker 2: also there are no consumable resources involved as I understand it,
Speaker 2: with this program, So whether they're teaching the class asked
Speaker 2: to five people or ten people or whatever, they they
Speaker 2: have reusable resources that they're using for class after class.
Speaker 2: And so anyway, oh that's helped me see better a
Speaker 2: little more about the program. Also, we have the city
Speaker 2: has an external audit done periodically that that will verify
Speaker 2: that we're using funds appropriately and all of that. So anyway,
Speaker 2: I'm happy to see this be able to be brought
Speaker 2: back up and get across the finish line.
Speaker 1: Yeah, very good, and so that will be again on
Speaker 1: the first meeting in February where the Council will revisit
Speaker 1: that literacy grant with the library. So now another thing
Speaker 1: that was that was kind of some questions were asked,
Speaker 1: what was this grant from Phillip sixty six that would
Speaker 1: be in cooperation with Up with Trees to do some
Speaker 1: additional tree scale if you will, along Highway seventy five
Speaker 1: and Frank Filds Boulevard in that area, playing some trees
Speaker 1: back we're in the medians there after the tornado came
Speaker 1: through and and did all that. Now we the council
Speaker 1: pushed that to another meeting for some additional research, right.
Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, there's there were some concerns raised about alignment
Speaker 2: with the Comprehensive Plan, which which we're we're revisiting. By
Speaker 2: the way, there's a committee we've we've had our first
Speaker 2: meeting on that as well, just trying to you know,
Speaker 2: figure out what really aligns with our city versus you know,
Speaker 2: there's some alignment in the plan with with un goals
Speaker 2: and so there was some concern around that and so
Speaker 2: but my really my concerns and and you know, allowing
Speaker 2: voting to yeah, let's go ahead and defer this until
Speaker 2: we learned more about the comprehensive plan. Was really just
Speaker 2: I was looking at where they were going to be
Speaker 2: playing the trees and and the times of trees, and
Speaker 2: I had a little bit of concern around them getting
Speaker 2: out to the roadway a little bit or you know,
Speaker 2: causing damage to the curbs or streets there, and so
Speaker 2: I just kind of wanted a little better understanding around that.
Speaker 2: Should have should have said something about that at the time,
Speaker 2: just to gain better understanding. Uh, but that's also being
Speaker 2: I think going to be brought back up as well,
Speaker 2: so you know, we don't we don't want to lose
Speaker 2: those grants either. And we appreciate Phillip sixty six and
Speaker 2: and up with trees and and uh being willing to help.
Speaker 1: Us with that. Yeah. Yeah, And there were some questions
Speaker 1: about that, especially after the tornado. I believe the trees
Speaker 1: that were in the median in that area that those
Speaker 1: were those Bradford Pear trees. I believe and we all know,
Speaker 1: of course, we have our gardening expert here every Saturday
Speaker 1: that the Bradford Pear is not a strong tree, and
Speaker 1: so I can I can certainly understand when you make
Speaker 1: sure that the type of tree that that would would
Speaker 1: go there would be something that could handle Oklahoma weather
Speaker 1: and also not damage our infrastructure. Of course Highway seventy
Speaker 1: five that state infrastructure, but you know along along thing
Speaker 1: Phills Boulevard that would be city owned infrastructure. So you know,
Speaker 1: it's good to always look at that and get the
Speaker 1: appropriate answers to that as well. So as far as
Speaker 1: far as going in and another ittem that that did pass,
Speaker 1: it was a three to one vote. It was on
Speaker 1: the U those electric carts for the golf course and
Speaker 1: for the police department. So talk a bit about that.
Speaker 1: Now you voted in favor of that, yes, talk about
Speaker 1: that and what were some of the concerns that were
Speaker 1: being had with that one at the council level.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think the initial concerns rays were
Speaker 2: again around you know, a green agenda. Yeah, you know,
Speaker 2: and to be clear there obviously we want to conserve
Speaker 2: and take care of our resources and and the earth
Speaker 2: and all that we have there, but uh, just not
Speaker 2: not elevating that over practical desires of a community and
Speaker 2: and all of that as well. So that, you know,
Speaker 2: once I understood more about those carts, to me, made
Speaker 2: made perfect sense to have those both for the golf
Speaker 2: course and for the Bartisville Police Department to be able
Speaker 2: to use Pathfinder specifically. I know there was also some
Speaker 2: concerns raised about the code around motorized vehicles.
Speaker 1: Run the path find. There is an ordinance against vehicles, yeah.
Speaker 2: Yes, but I think written in there also is an
Speaker 2: exception for safety and and that sort of thing that
Speaker 2: would be fine for fire department, police department to be
Speaker 2: able to use motorized vehicles there.
Speaker 1: Sure, yeah, so that that's something that will be come
Speaker 1: up and get its two utility style golf carts for
Speaker 1: the of course that they'll be using for maintenance and
Speaker 1: that type of thing, and then the two carts for
Speaker 1: the police department are basically your standard once if you
Speaker 1: see health there on the golf course, except instead of
Speaker 1: where you put your your your golf bags on the back,
Speaker 1: I think they're gonna have another bench there so that
Speaker 1: they you know, if somebody needs assistance on the Pathfinder,
Speaker 1: they will be able to do that. And you know,
Speaker 1: I think Lisa Beeman, the city's grant administrator, she made
Speaker 1: a good point that the city is not going to
Speaker 1: a a electric vehicle perspective, you know, and she I
Speaker 1: think she made it very clear that she understands that
Speaker 1: that's something the council would not approve if they were
Speaker 1: going to say, oh, let's go to a battery operated
Speaker 1: you know, patrol vehicle. No, that that's something that this
Speaker 1: council probably would not be in favor of, So she
Speaker 1: wouldn't even take the time to write the grant. This
Speaker 1: is one where the city has always had electric powered,
Speaker 1: battery powered golf carts at the Adams and it just
Speaker 1: it just fit.
Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, absolutely definitely makes sense there. And I we
Speaker 2: I don't know exactly where this was brought up to
Speaker 2: me sometime in the last week or so, but they
Speaker 2: there was actually a report given to us that I
Speaker 2: that the I think the previous council looked at sometime
Speaker 2: in the last couple of years about the possibility of
Speaker 2: that and and it was it would not even be
Speaker 2: feasible costwise to even move that direction.
Speaker 1: Yeah. So yeah, well, I think I think that's one
Speaker 1: thing that we all know is that we have a
Speaker 1: great professional city staff who look at the big picture
Speaker 1: on things and they're not going to do something outside
Speaker 1: of the Council's direction. Yeah, really a lot of time,
Speaker 1: a lot of time. Now you have a big workshop
Speaker 1: that's going to be coming up. I think it's next Monday, right, Yeah,
Speaker 1: So this is again a city council workshop. It's into
Speaker 1: the public absolutely, but this this workshop is going to
Speaker 1: be kind of a discussion piece on a on a
Speaker 1: hot topic here in the community and that is, uh,
Speaker 1: the the drag queen shows, the outdoor drag queen shows
Speaker 1: that have been occurring here recently during the annual Pride festival.
Speaker 1: So what what are you hoping to learn? I know
Speaker 1: there was a during your orientation, uh to the attorney
Speaker 1: Jess Kane really talked a lot about some of the
Speaker 1: constitutionality and and all of that related to that. What
Speaker 1: are you hoping to gain from this workshop?
Speaker 2: Well, that's a good question. Uh, it's it's going to
Speaker 2: be more education hopefully around that. If there's anything else
Speaker 2: that that he can share, I think word for Council
Speaker 2: Member Aeron Kirkpatrick may also have some some ideas of
Speaker 2: of how we uh can best approach this sort of thing.
Speaker 1: And so.
Speaker 2: It's it's really just gonna be talking around that, and
Speaker 2: you know, I've been trying to do some more reading
Speaker 2: and research myself on what's out there, what's available. I
Speaker 2: went back and listened just yesterday to what just presented
Speaker 2: to us at the orientation, and so yeah, just trying
Speaker 2: to get educated and figure out where we go from here.
Speaker 1: Sure, sure, and you know that's that's the thing I
Speaker 1: see that this council was doing. I mean, it's it's
Speaker 1: now three of the new members. Have you guys haven't
Speaker 1: been in government before, and so learning about procedures, learning
Speaker 1: about law and what is within the authority of a
Speaker 1: municipality to do, staying within the law. That's always a
Speaker 1: learning curve that goes with that.
Speaker 2: You know, Yes, absolutely, there is a lot to learn
Speaker 2: around the municipal code we have and and just upholding
Speaker 2: that our state constitution, our US Constitution. I have lots
Speaker 2: of education to get around those as well. And I
Speaker 2: think they also the the you know, the rules of order.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 2: I know, for a lot of people, especially if you
Speaker 2: you know, took debate growing up or anything like that,
Speaker 2: you probably have a good handle on a lot of that.
Speaker 2: I didn't personally.
Speaker 1: Uh.
Speaker 2: In fact, I had one constituent that brought that to
Speaker 2: me an email like, you know, y'all need to understand
Speaker 2: better all of this, and I said, you're absolutely right,
Speaker 2: and and I'm I'm definitely working on that, studying those
Speaker 2: rules to try to make sure I understand our procedures
Speaker 2: better and you know, just be able to keep more
Speaker 2: professionalism going through that.
Speaker 1: So absolutely well, again, it is a learning thing, and
Speaker 1: and being in public office, Larry is Is can be
Speaker 1: very rewarding. It can be also extremely challenging as well,
Speaker 1: and getting those phone calls and those emails all the time,
Speaker 1: being receptive to your constituency as a whole is something. Again,
Speaker 1: It's a constant learn That's what I've learned myself in
Speaker 1: covering unicful government for two decades now. So I don't
Speaker 1: envy you. Let's put it that way. Let's put it
Speaker 1: that way.
Speaker 2: Well, now, there were lots of people, you know that
Speaker 2: the after the election giving both congrat congratulations and condolences
Speaker 2: at the same.
Speaker 1: Time exactly exactly, well, we we know that we you
Speaker 1: had that willingness to serve, and thank you for for
Speaker 1: doing that for our city and sticking your neck out
Speaker 1: there and sometimes learning as you're going. And let's say, hey,
Speaker 1: all right, let's revisit something so that that that speaks
Speaker 1: to your character, that really does.
Speaker 2: I appreciate that. Another item, if we do, we.
Speaker 1: Have another, that's one minute. Yeah, go ahead, there's another
Speaker 1: quick item.
Speaker 2: I know I've had some out to me with concerns
Speaker 2: around the price, fields and maintenance and management of those,
Speaker 2: and so I know the current contract expired at the
Speaker 2: end of December, and so I'm just I'm trying to
Speaker 2: gather more information about where we are in that process
Speaker 2: and what we can do to make sure getting a
Speaker 2: new contract or renewed contract or whatever it doesn't interrupt
Speaker 2: the cycle, because I understand it. They're already you know,
Speaker 2: needing to accept registrations for the spring season and everything,
Speaker 2: and so we are looking into that as well.
Speaker 1: That's the request for qualifications on the management of process.
Speaker 1: All right, very good, very good, absolutely well Ward two
Speaker 1: City councilor Larry East. It's been our pleasure having you
Speaker 1: here on city batters today.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Nathan.
Speaker 1: All right, you're very welcome.