Grand Opening
City Council approves upgrades to Robert S. Kerr Airport
The Poteau City Council approved two separate motions with regards to upgrading Robert S. Kerr Airport during its February meeting Monday night at Poteau City Hall.
The first motion dealt with the consultant agreement with Lochner, Incorporated for an environmental assessment project for the airport, which will be extending the length of the runway by 1,500 feet, making the runway length be a total of 5,000 feet.
Robert S. Kerr Airport Manager Rossi Christenberry along with his wife Annette, mentioned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted funding, but an unknown dollar amount at this time, so that the project can get started.
The other motion dealing with the airport that was passed deals with a consultant agreement with Lochner on the rehabilitation of runway 18-36, which needs some cracking and sealing done to it due chunks of asphalt now in place due to past rainstorms. The Christenberrys also mentioned that the FAA mentioned that the marks on the runway cannot be seen from the air, so there would be the need to re-mark the runway.
The cost for the airport upgrades will be funded 10 percent by the City of Poteau, while the other 90 percent will be funded by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC).
Poteau Mayor Scotty White was going to award a five-year pin to City of Poteau Billing and Collections Department staff member Brant Toney, but he was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting.
The City Council approved the recommendation of both the City of Poteau Personnel Committee and Poteau Fire Department Chief Jon Pickel to hire Deavin Oldaker and Anthony Whitecotton as Poteau Fire Department firefighters.
The City Council also approved the payment of purchase orders as signed and approved by the City of Poteau Finance Committee, acceptance of department reports and the budget transfers for January.
The first meeting of the night was the Poteau Industrial Authority board meeting, in which Poteau Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Director Karen Wages said 2023 is already off and running.
Wages said the Chamber welcomed eight new members, is working on its 2023 Chamber Directory and that the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center saw approximately 3,500 visitors for different events in January.
Wages also said that the LeFlore County Youth Services’ Chili Cook-Off will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Reynolds Center to help raise funds for the inside accessories for the new building/wing that eventually will be built along the north end of the current LCYS facility.
Wages mentioned that there will be a Big Daddy Weave concert Feb. 18 and a MMX fight card in April card, both at the Reynolds Center. Wages told the board the annual Trash-Off event will be April 15, and that Leadership LeFlore County, once enrollment ends later this month, should have about 20 participants.
Wages mentioned the Chamber is changing its billboard to to reflect the new year, and she is wanting to get with downtown Poteau businesses to see if they would want to incorporate the name “Dewey District” as a name for the area.
The board also approved the payment of purchase orders as signed and approved by the City of Poteau Finance Committee, acceptance of department reports and the budget transfers for January.
The second meeting of Monday night’s tripleheader was the Poteau Public Works Authority board, which also approved the payment of purchase orders as signed and approved by the City of Poteau Finance Committee, acceptance of department reports and the budget transfers for January.