Sapulpa Daily Herald (Sapulpa, Okla.), Vol. 66, No. 236, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 17, 1980 Page: 1 of 12
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OKLV.IOMA II13TORI CAL SOCIETY
HIJTO'ICAL BUILDING
OKLA. CITY. OKLA. 73105
Legislature Adjourns With Sour Note
OKLAHOMA CITY (UPI) -
Oklahoma’s 1980 Legislature, which
tiov. George Nigh called one of the
finest, clanked to a stop on a bitter note
late Monday night.
House Speaker Dan Draper, D-
Stillwater, accused the Senate of
deliberately delaying passage of a half-
billion school bill on the final day so the
House wouldn’t have time to study it.
“They held it while they took a three-
hour dinner break,” said Draper, "and
I don’t appreciate it. I certainly hope
we will have leadership in the Senate
next year that will be more cooperative
in providing for an orderly ad-
journment.’’
Senate President Pro Tempore Gene
Howard, D-Tulsa, had said earlier,
however, that the school bill was late in
being printed. Sen. Marvin York, D-
Oklahoma City, has been designated by
Council
To Curb
Light Use
In a move resulting less from
energy consciousness than
concern for constituents, city
commissioners have decided to
install timers which will
automatically turn off lights at
Sapulpa ball parks and tennis
courts.
Repeatedly during recent
months, councilmen have heard
complaints about lights being left
on at the park facilities, par-
ticularly at liberty Park where
there are two ball diamonds and
four lighted tennis courts. City
officials were hopeful the
problem could be rectified
without having to purchase the
automatic shut-off devices, but
when a complaint was aired
Monday night the council voted to
take action.
“Those people who live behind
the Kelly Lane fields have to put
up with ball playing half the
night," said Ward Four Com-
missioner T. Howard Allen.
“Something needs to be done.”
City Manager Dale Block said
he was tired of being called out in
the middle of the night to turn off
the tennis court lights.
“In the case of the ball fields it
looks like it’s mainly kids turning
the lights back on after the teams
have finished playing," said
Block.
Ward One Commissioner
Bobby Lee suggested putting
meters on the lights which would
require people to pay if they
wanted to use the facilities.
“You give the people these
facilities and then they won’t
even take care of them," said
Councilman Allen. “They want
more but they won’t do anything
in return.”
A decision as to when the
devices should turn off the lights
was postponed to a later meeting,
but commissioners did authorize
the city manager to order the
timers.
Block, who said the devices
probably could be installed later
this month, said the council's
decision probably would not sit
well with many of the 2,000
Sapulpans who play in organized
ball leagues.
"Maybe we can get them to
start play earlier,” said Mayor
Roy Monger, who reminded the
councilman that the city pai(
over $11,000 for electricity last
month. “It could save some on
our electric bill.”
Senate Democrats to succeed Howard
as the Senate’s top leader in 1981.
The Senate passed a resolution at 8:30
p.m. setting the hour of final ad-
journment for 9:15 p.m. and went
home. The House finally quit at 9:38
p.m.
Draper called the school measure a
fine bill but accused the Senate of
deliberately stalling passage so delay
its delivery to the House. He said the
joint conference committee approved
the bill at noon. He said the Senate
adjournment resolution was timed for
9:15 p.m. and the House didn’t get the
school bill until 9 p.m.
Rep. Bill Bradley, D-Waurika, asked
Draper if the House could refuse to
adjourn and force the Senate to return
on another day. Draper said that could
be done but the House instead would
ignore the Senate resolution and enact
its own, ending the session.
The 1980 session closed on its 80th
legislative day, 10 fewer than the limit
permitted by the Constitution.
Both houses passed appropriations
totaling hundreds of millions of dollars
the final day, pushing total spending to
nearly $1.3 billion. The school bill, one
of the last passed, came to $517 million.
The Legislature originally had been
scheduled to quit last Friday, but late
changes in bills and paperwork pushed
the session into Monday.
Nigh came to the fourth floor
chambers in late afternoon and gave
his traditional good-bye message just
before a joint House-Senate committee
approved the final bill for the $1.3
billion state budget. Nearly two-thirds
of the budget was adopted Monday.
Nigh, who has spent 26 years as an
elected state official, noted it was
customary for governors to tell
departing legislators they had done a
good job, but he emphasized, “I
genuinely mean this Legislature is the
finest.”
"I have been involved in the
legislative process since I first came to
the House of Representatives in 1950,”
he said, ‘ ‘and we are dosing today what
I sincerely believe is the most sensitive,
most responsive, and the most
productive for the benefit of the people
that I have ever seem”
Nigh noted the session had been able
to increase appropriations, cut taxes
and close with “a strong cash reserve.”
“Obviously, the availability of
growing tax collections while giving tax
reductions is an enviable position that I
know a great many of our sister states
would like to enjoy,” he said.
Nigh candidly stated the Legislature
had gone beyond his original program
and warmly praised the Legislature for
what he termed “wse and prudent
spending.” He Individually com-
plimented several legislators:
—Senate President Pro Tempore
Gene Howard, D-Tulsa, for “special
efforts” in eliminating the state sales
tax on utilities.
—House Speaker Dan Draper, for
starting the $54 million fiveyear rural
bridge program.
—Sen. Rodger Randle, D-Tulsa, and
Rep. Jim Fried, D-Oklahoma City, and
others for “a much improved
educational package that will literally
make Oklahoma one of the most
dramatically improved education
states in the nation.”
Nigh also congratulated the
Legislature for an expanded highway
program, creation of the Office of
Handicapped Concerns, passage of the
nursing home inspection bill, the
transfer of University Hospital to the
Welfare Department — “a giant step
toward making our health services
second to none in the nation.”
Nigh praised the Legislature for
improvements in the state pension
program, for the 10 percent raise given
state employees, for enactment of the
corporate tax credit.
“There has been less friction in
writing the best program ever in the
history of Oklahoma,” he said.
“There are some things that each of
us would have done differently,” Nigh
said, “but the whole is equal to the sum
of its parts.
“You add up to a great Legislature. I
am proud to have been a part of this
session with you."
Sapulpa Daily
OKLAHOMA CITY (UPI) -
Oklahoma's 1980 Legislature ap-
propriated a record sum of nearly $1.3
billion but will leave the state a cash
surplus to carry over until next session.
A final tally by the budget office
showed the Legislature had spent
$1,289,127,000. This was an increase of
$223 million over last session.
Part of this year's appropriations
came from surplus funds for the
current fiscal year. Legislative leaders
estimated an additional $75 to $100
million in surplus will accumulate by
the end of the fiscal year June 30.
Gov. George Nigh noted in his
farewell remarks to the Legislature
that “growing tax collections” had
placed Oklahoma in the enviable
position of being able to cut taxes and
increase appropriations with cash to
spare. Much of the revenue has come
from oil and gas revenue.
Following are appropriations to
major agencies for the new year:
Common Schools — $517 million, up
$90.4 million.
Colleges $272.4 million, up $42
million.
Transportation — $104.4 million, up
$27 million.
Mental Health — $50.6 million, up
$11.8 million.
Public Health - $15 million, up $1.5
million.
Corrections — $54.8 million, up $14
million.
Vo-tech education —$24.1 million, up
$5.1 million.
Public safety — $22.7 million, up $3.4
million.
Agriculture — $7.4 million, up $1.6
million.
Tourism and Recreation — $15.5
million, up .7 million.
"Die budget also included $52.7 milliorl
for new buildings, facilities and
repairs. The list included $22.4 million
for colleges, $6 million for tourism and
parks, $3.6 million for mental health,
$6.8 million for vo-tech, $7.9 million for
corrections, and the remainder for
several other projects.
20c Daily 35c Sunday
Tuesday, June 17» 1980
GERALD
A Park Newspaper
Sapulpa, Okla. 744M»<»
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RAINWATER GEYSER? Not exactly. Mike Reynolds, pictured, and other
residents living near the 200 block of E. Washington St., say the phenomenon
occurs when heavy rains fill the storm sewers, forcing pressurized water up
through the hole in the middle of the street. (Herald Photo)
Heavy Storms Batter State, Area
Heavy thunderstorms that have
battered most of the state in the last 24
hours brought heavy rain and gusty
winds to the Sapulpa area today.
A home belonging to the Calvary
Church, located three miles west of
Sapulpa on Taft Ave., was slightly
damaged when lightening struck a
electrical receptacle. According to
reports, the receptacle was blown away
from the side of the house and a wire
feeding the house from the power line
was shorted out.
No other damage was reported as a
result of the storm which dumped
nearly 2.8 inches of rain in the area
during the last twenty-four hours.
Monday's and today’s rainfall was the
first measurable amount of per-
cipitation to fall in the county in June,
according to measurements taken at
the Sapulpa water treatment facility.
Tornados and hail were reported as
the heavy thunderstorms lashed the
northern, eastern and southwestern
sections of Oklahoma. A twister was
spotted near Daavenport, but no
damage was reported.
Another funnel reportedly touched
down two miles southeast of Stroud.
Many Tulsa streets and underpasses
were flooded by heavy rains around
midnight a and Joe Creek rose several
feet, authorities said.
MCALESTER, Okla. (UPI) - A
corrections expert said today ap-
pointment of a “special master” to
oversee prison improvements in
Oklahoma would be an effective move
preferable to finding the state in con-
tempt of court.
Vincent Nathan, a former University
of Oklahoma law professor, testified in
the second day of a compliance hearing
on a federal court reform order.
Nathan, who has served as a special
master in federal prison cases in Ohio
and Georgia, called such a supervisory
program “a conservative judicial
move.”
Nathan made the recommendations
to federal judge Ijither Bohanon, who
in 1974 ordered sweeping reforms in
Oklahoma prisons.
Also testifying today was inmate
Jack Ellerman, a clerk at the law
library at the Joseph Harp Correctional
Center at Lexington, Okla.
Ellerman said of the library,
“There’s some books missing, and the
facility itself is not really proper for
doing research.”
The inmate said unqualified
prisoners are hired as legal aides in the
law library. “I don’t believe there’s a
law clerk in the system qualified to
handle another man’s case."
In earlier testimony, academic
psychiatrist Dr. George Soloman said
as many as half of Oklahoma’s inmates
need mental care at some time during
their incarceration.
Soloman said he reviewed the
psychiatric care in the corrections
system last year at the request of State
Mental Health Director Dr. Frank
James.
“I think the word I used in my report
(to describe the psychiatric unit in the
penitentiary infirmary) was ‘dismal,’”
Soloman said. "It was certainly ap-
palling. There are some very sick
people there.”
He said found the protective custody
unit at the state penitentiary to be
“grossly unsuitable, appalling and
cruel.’
Soloman estimated that about 2
percent of Oklahoma’s prisoners need
constant hospitalization for mental
care and approximately 70 percent
need “significant daily outpatient
care."
The American Civil Liberties Union,
which has led the legal fight for better
prisons, filed a motion asking Bohanon
to appoint a “special master” to run the
state's prisons while under court order.
ACLU attorneys, claiming the
Corrections Department continually
has violated Bohanon’s 1974 order to
improve prison conditions, said the
master would serve “as an arm and the
eyes and ears of the court.”
“He is becoming increasingly evident
that exceptional measures must be
implemented by the court,” the ACLU
said.
Soloman recommended the
Corrections Department set up an
“acute care facility” for prisoners near
Oklahoma City or Tulsa and in-
corporate it into an overall system of
mental health care.
He also recommended “opening up
the system to the light of day” with
periodic inspections by mental health
professionals serving as consultants to
the court and the Corrections Depart-
ment.
★ Forecast ★
Sapulpa and vicinity -> Partly cloudy
and mild with a chance of thun-
dershowers through Wednesday.
Overnight lows in the upper 60’s;
Wednesday highs in the upper 80s.
Temperatures
Tuesday Noon ......................•$
Monday High .......................M
Overnight Low......................•$
Late Stocks
The Dow Jones Industrial Index was
up 1.2 points to 878.67 as of noon (CDT)
today; volume was 21,000,000 shares
traded. For a partial listing of today’s
stocks see page 2.
Water Line Settlement Given Tentative Approval
By Mike Erwin
Herald News Editor
lhe Sapulpa City Commission has
tentatively approved final claim set-
tlement with the bonding firm
responsible for construction of an
emergency water line to Tulsa, but it
will withhold payment of the $17,000
claim until the city is released from
litigation arising from the ill-fated
project.
City Attorney Jim Lindsey told
councilmen Monday night that the
bonding firm, Continental Casualty Co.
of Tulsa, had agreed to reduce its
original claim — over $38,000 — by
$21,100.22. The penalty reduction
results from delays in finishing the
project, which was started In 1977 and
completed only recently.
“All the elements surrounding the
delays are still not dear,” said Lind-
sey. “lhe project was brought about
under emergency conditions and it
encountered numerous difficulties and
interruptions."
Difficulties in obtaining plans
showing the location of existing sewer
lines in the area resulted in numerous
construction delays. The original
contractor, OK Construction Co.,
defaulted on the project, then was
rehired by the bonding company only to
default a second time. The second
default resulted In litigation against the
construction company and the City of
Sapulpa.
In addition, two engineering con-
sultants concerned with the project
died within a 60-day period, causing
additional problems and delays.
The council, with a lone objection by
Ward One Commissioner Bobby Lee,
accepted Lindsey's recommendation to
approve final settlement with the
bonding company pending release of
the city as a litigant. It agreed to
withhold payment of the $17,000 claim
until documents are received assuring
such release.
OK Construction Co. owner Jimmy
McGuire, appearing before the com-
mission, said it will possibly “be some
time before you’ll get those documents.
“They won’t be signed until I’m
released from any obligation to the
bonding company or the city," said
McGuire.
Commissioner Lee suggested that the
city bring suit against the engineering
firm, which he blamed for problems
stemming from the project. Lindsey
said this would be “a difficult course of
action to pursue” because of the time
lapse and need for consultation with
other engineers.
“As far as the contract cost for the
engineering work, we owe that,” said
Lindsey. “But claims for reworking
and restaking the project are a
separate matter.”
Bids Accepted
Bids were accepted on labor and
materials to Install a tile door in the
Booker T. Washington Community
Center, and on corrugated steel pipe to
be used in constructing drainage
structures on N. Brown St. and James
Ave.
Low bid on the floor covering was
$5,288 by C&C Hie and Carpet Co. of
Tulsa. Other bids were by Wells Fur-
niture of Sapulpa ($6,258.75) and
Graham Floors of Sapulpa ($6,939.50).
Ward Five Commoner Denny Tyler,
the owner of a furniture store who said
his business would have bid on the floor
had he not been a councilman, said "if
C&C can do it for that price then let’s let
them do it... it’s a low bid, they may
have made a mistake.”
Low bid on the pipe was $36.66 per
foot by Smith Culvert Co. of Tulsa. The
only other bid was by Sapulpa Lumber
Co. ($37.50 per foot).
Other Action
In other action, the council adopted a
resolution annexing a tract of land,
owned by Jeannie Fitzsimmons, on S.
Hickory St. The tract, toned C-l, is
surrounded by property already
located inside the city limits.
Granting of an easement for a new
Safeway Store also was unanimously
endorsed by the 10-member com-
mission.
In fiscal matters, a transfer of $11,900
from various city accounts into the
other was approved, and a sup-
plemental appropriation of $432,662 was
accepted. Both were needed to allow
the city to operate for the remainder of
the 1900 fiscal year.
A programming resolution for the
Line Street overpass also was adopted,
clearing the way for approval of that
project by the state highway com-
mission.
Construction of the overpass, as a
federal urban systems project, would
be accomplished with a federal grant
providing 75 percent of the funding and
the city providing the rest, ap-
proximately $200,000.
“The Highway Department is ex-
pecting reduced revenue next year so
there’s a good chance this project, or
any project, might be set back,” said
City Manager Dale Block. “That’s why
we need to move it along as fast as we
can. It’s a very important project for
the city.”
Commissioners also approved an
ordinance increasing the speed limit
fromSOmph to 35 mph on S. Hickory St.
between Mary Lynn Dr. and
Goodykoantz Ave. The change was
opposed by Councilman Lee.
Index
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Crossword Puzzle.........
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DearAbby...............
.....9
Editorials ...............
4
Entertainment...........
.....9
Horoscope...............
.....9
Incidentally .............
.....2
Living Images...........
.....S
Sports ...................
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Lake, Charles S. Sapulpa Daily Herald (Sapulpa, Okla.), Vol. 66, No. 236, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 17, 1980, newspaper, June 17, 1980; Sapulpa, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1494821/m1/1/: accessed July 4, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.