The Chandler City Council approved an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install advanced school warning signs with flashing beacons on Route 66, leading up to Jon Gray Drive. The agreement also includes lowering the speed limit along that stretch of road heading to the back entrance of the school complex by 10 mph. ODOT will cover the installation, while the city will be responsible for maintenance.
Mayor Kent McVey said residents in that area, along with the owner of the propane business there, have long complained about the dangers. Police Chief Matt Mattheyer confirmed that some of the worst accidents the police department has dealt with have been in that area. Vice Mayor Rick Evans said installing the signs and lowering the speed limit would serve three purposes and be helpful for the people who live in the subdivision, for Larry Freeman’s business, which has a lot of traffic, and for the school. “It seems to me that it’s something that is certainly useful and probably overdue. From an overall standpoint, it’s been this way for a while, and now we’ve got a partner to help us with it,” he said. The Council also discussed the possibility of accepting a donation from Louis and Nancy Johnson of one acre of land, along with all the building structures and equipment on the property. The area in question has previously been a flower shop, animal boarding kennels, and other businesses. Mayor McVey suggested selling some of it for seed money to use on economic development. The property currently contains a few different buildings, a garden, and two cremation units that the mayor valued at around $50,000 to $100,000. Evans suggested they could use some of the property or buildings for Reed Park, which is located nearby.
Council Member Marilyn Young pushed for due diligence.
“I just want to make sure that before we accept something, we’re not accepting something that might have environmental problems or something that’s going to end up costing us more than what we can afford,” she said.
The Council agreed to table it for further consideration and plan to have a decision by early fall.
Other agenda items included the presentation of a new economic development brochure put together by intern Natalie Nell to help attract new businesses to the area.
The Council also approved a contract for veterinary services with Countryside Veterinary Services.