City approves over $90K for dispatcher consoles
Jan. 28—The City of Duncan will spend more than $90K for new dispatcher workstations.
City council approved the $91,264.66 expense this week saying four new dispatcher consoles will be installed in coming weeks.
The state-of-the-art consoles will be purchased from Xybix Systems, Inc.
Interim City Manager Kenzie Wheeler said the current dispatch work stations are about 15 years old.
"They've become a maintenance problem over the last several years," she said. "The furniture consoles are typically replaced every 10 years."
She said the purchase will cut down on maintenance, as well as provide dispatchers with a more comfortable and ergonomic workstation for their eight-hour shift.
The purchase price will include the removal of the old stations and installation of the new station.
She said the new products come with a 10-year warranty with a scheduled installation date of late February or early March.
"This is an item budgeted for the 2024 budget year," she said.
Councilors approved the purchase with a 5-0 vote.
The council approved an ordinance to amend a city code for building setback requirements for tattoo parlors from other land uses.
Wheeler said "the state of Oklahoma recently amended state statute removing the additional setback requirements from churches, schools and playgrounds," she said. "It was explained that tattoo parlors are heavily regulated by health law and additional setback requirements, making it extremely difficult for a tattoo parlor to open within the community."
She said the planning commission agreed this "limited the ability for a business to locate to Duncan."
"It was also noted by planning commission that a tattoo parlor will continue to be required to seek a use on review, if the ordinance is amended, meaning there will be a public hearing before the commission and final approvals will be granted by the city council," she said.
The board approved the ordinance with a 4-1 vote, with Vice Mayor Patty Wininger voting no.
The council went into an executive session for 40 minutes to discuss the 2024 Fiscal Year contract with the City of Duncan and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
The council returned to open session with no additional comments and approved the contract with a 5-0 vote.
The board approved:
—a Broce Broom 350 for the streets department from Kirby Smith Machinery, Inc. for $72,057.09
—three requests to rezone properties: one at 506 East Main Street in Duncan, one at the Southeast quadrant of Highway 81 and Camelback Road in Duncan and one along Camelback Road east of Highway 81 for a future site for a fire station
—a request for proposal for construction manager qualifications for a new fire station South Highway 81 and Camelback Road.
In a separate meeting, the Duncan Public Utilities Authority approved:
—pay request to Weeks Farms, LLC for $172,323.20 for services related to the Settling Ponds Improvements Project.
—pay request to Freese and Nichols, Inc. for $21,351.88 for the Advance Metering Infrastructure Replacement project.
—pay request to Freese and Nichols, Inc. for $3,390.53 for the Clear Creek Dam Phase Two embankment evaluation project.
Wheeler said she wanted to thank the utility staff for working through the weather event on Sunday and Monday.
"I know street crews were out at 1 a.m. working all through the night doing some sanding," she said. "Our water department sure stayed on top."
The next Duncan City Council meeting will convene at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 13 inside council chambers, located inside the Duncan Police Department.
