| Hugo city council and school officials to work together to ensure safety of students |
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| Wednesday, 08 February 2012 17:37 | |||
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By Krystle Taylor Editor HUGO –– Members of the Hugo City Council addressed concerns from citizens regarding an incident that occurred at Hugo High School on Jan. 30. According to the reporting parties, five juveniles, who were suspended from school, jumped and assaulted another student as school was ending, and are continuing to threaten and harass said student. Citizens, as well as Hugo superintendent, Karen Lyles and high school principal, Doyle Patterson asked the council for police assistance and security at the high school. The school administration and the city officials are looking to apply for grants that would make it possible to employ a security guard at the school. A possibility of lowering the city curfew and enforcing a fine to the parents for their children’s bad behavior was discussed. The members of the council agreed to have an officer patrol the school and surrounding area when the final bell rings. Councilman Layton Cox assured the concerned audience that all of the concerns will be followed up on. “It takes citizens working with the police department to get this under control. We will stand together and fix this problem,” Cox said. After hearing a proposal from code enforcement officer Ricky Britt, the council approved his request to go out for bids for the demolition of condemned property. Thirty dwellings are on the list to be demolished. By hiring an outside source, it would leave the street department free to continue work on the street projects, Britt said. The council approved Britt’s request, with the stipulation that one bidder will get the entire job, and will get paid upon completion of each individual structure. The condemned property includes: • 510 S. H. • 509 N. A. • 511 N. A. • 706 E. Trice. • 501 N. H. • 1104 W. Duke. • 311 W. Sterrett. • 802 S. H. • 1102 N. G. • 1005 E. Medlock. • 200 block of W. Central. • 801 N. I. • 607 S. D. • 910 W. Jackson. • 204 N. J. • 111 Broad. • 614 S. Second. • 610 S. Second. • 302 S. Webb. • 708 S. C. • 808 S. J. • 803 N. J. • 1110 S. K. • 1204 W. Second. • 708 W. Dalton. • 509 N. Broadway. • 303 & 305 S. Third. • 1010 MLK. • 312 S. Dewitt. • 1106 S. C. Action regarding the approval for a tourism coordinator was approved by the council, with payment totaling $300 a month for three months with an additional $100 for each two-day event that is booked. This is only required for an event that hasn’t been previously booked by the city of Hugo. Also approved by the council was the $74,200.76 payment to W. Brown for the sewer project lift station that was installed east of Highway 70 and Highway 93. Council members discussed the possibility of renaming softball field No. 4 during lat night’s meeting and after a motion by councilman Bart Tedder, it was approved to rename it. In recognition for his efforts and commitment in the building and funding of this field, the Hugo city council designates softball field No. 4 at Walter Leonard Park as the Stan (Stanford) Payne Softball Field. Another proclamation was approved by the council during the meeting regarding Hugo resident Cecil Bell. Bell was born Feb. 19, 1922 and courageously served our military with 511 days of combat, eight major battles, five invasions with the 45th Division General Patton and on occasion of the 90th birthday of Bell, the city of Hugo proclaimed Feb. 19, 2012 as Cecil Bell Day. Approved by the council were the minutes of the Jan. 17 meeting, financial statements and purchase order lists. Hugo mayor Stan Payne and city attorney Gary Brownsworth were absent. Hugo Municipal Authority Meeting The Hugo Municipal Authority met in regular session Tuesday night to discuss the repair of headworks at the sewer plant. According to city manager, Jeff Rabon, all the parts to repair the headworks are available at the plant. The item was tabled to allow the mechanic, who is on medical leave, a little more time to get released. If the mechanic is not cleared by his physician, the council will have to hire out the job for around $16,000. Approved by the council were the minutes of the Jan. 17 meeting.
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