The Sulphur City Council approved several new ordinances and amended others pertaining to the court costs and fines at the regular monthly meeting Monday night.
New ordinances approved will allow for a new deferred citation fee, add a fee for police capital outlay, and add a fee for municipal court technology fee.
Also approved was an ordinance amending Chapter 13’s fines and penalty limitations not to be in excess of what State Statutes allow. This amendment sets a cap on the maximum amount of fines.
City Manager Andy Freeman told members the judge and court clerk can set the fine schedule or the council can set the schedule by ordinance.
Lastly, members approved an ordinance setting court costs and fees, exclusive of fines that may be charged and collected by the clerk of the court.
According to state statues, court costs can not exceed $30.00, however the City of Sulphur has been charging $60.00 for court costs, according to the court records and fee schedule.
Since the statute allegedly may not have been followed, anyone paying the $60.00 fee for court costs may be entitled to a refund of $30.00. If you feel you may be owed a refund for the fees, you can contact city hall for more information.
Council members approve a 2022-23 audit engagement letter with Michael W. Green, CPAto include additional audit work fees in an amount not to exceed $6,700. This letter is in addition to a letter previously approved for the yearly audit.
The initial engagement letter identified significant risks as management override of internal control and improper revenue recognition.
The new letter identified the following additional risks of material misstatement areas identified as:
•the Airport Fund was created but not utilized during fiscal year 2023;
•Codification of City Ordinances has not been updated;
•Related Party Transactions; Compensated absences accrued and paid in excess of City Policy;
•Payroll/compensation being paid in excess of actual time worked and investigations into Open Meetings Act violations by the Attorney Generals office. Freeman also stated the city had increased inherent risk due to the recent recall petitions.
Council members were also informed the audit will not be available by the deadline of December 31, 2023. The City Treasurer told the board the firm has a new goal date for completion of the audit as January 31, 2024.
In other agenda action, the board approved the following:
•approved a FEMA Flood plain ordinance update;
•approved radio replacements for the fire department drivers;
•approved the resolution of the City of Sulphur to the County Election Board calling for the Annual City Election for Wards 1,3 and 5 council members;
•approved renewal on generator maintenance with Clifford Power in the amount of $17,085.00;
•approved quote of $7,909.66 from Clifford Powers for repair of generator at the wastewater treatment plant; and
•approved a revised bid for repairing a pump at the wastewater treatment plant from Interstate Electric from $9,855.00 to $11,730.00.
Members took no action on a proposal for the Sulphur Public Schools Building Plan.
Members approved the following in the consent agenda:
•payment to FirstNet, a branch ofAT&T for cell phone service in an amount not to exceed $900.00;
•approximate payment amount of $15,000.00 and $10,000.00 to Finish Line for fuel expenses for November.
In public participation, Tara Mullins requested the immediate termination of City Attorney Les Wesberry for failing to do his job in the recent recall petitions. Mullins also cited Wesberry defending some city council members in one hearing and not one in the other.
In correspondence and updates, Freeman told members due to conflicts on commercial endorsements, etc. the city will be re-bidding the roof bids for the city hall, American Legion and Historical Society buildings. Freeman told the board other things still working on included variance for OSD to have chickens; city website; TAP Grant for sidewalks on Broadway; codification books of ordinances, beacon light at airport; OWRD/ Chickasaw Nation Grant, new poly carts being delivered and GIS System to map water and sewer lines within the city.
All five council members were present at the meeting.
