Published: March 24, 2008 11:44 am            

Geokinetics, Inc. doubles offer to city of McAlester

A company which wants a permit to place seismic cables and geophones on city property has more than doubled its offer to the city.

Consideration and action on the item is on the agenda for the regular city council meeting set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall.

Geokinetics, Inc. initially offered the city $20,000 two weeks ago to place the seismic cables and geophones on city property, including public right-of-way areas within the McAlester city limits.

City councilors tabled the item during their regular city council meeting held on March 11, with several councilors and City Attorney Bob Ivester questioning how the company arrived at the $20,000 fee.

Geokinetics is now offering the council $50,000 in compensation for the permit, according to City Public Works Director George Marcangeli.

Jason Cartsen, the project manager for Geokinetics, is expected to attend the Tuesday night meeting to answer any questions the council might have about the project.

The company plans to conduct seismic tests covering approximately 215,000 acres in Pittsburg County, with the city of McAlester on the western edge of the survey.

In McAlester, Geokinetics wants to use equipment known as Viberoseis buggies — described as resembling semi trucks — on some city property. The company has assured the city council that none of the vibration, or vibe point, locations covered by the Viberoseis buggies will be performed over city water and sewer lines.

Another point of contention during the March 11 meeting involved an offer by Geokinetics to hire off-duty McAlester police officers “to escort the Vibe trucks through the city for safety purposes.”

Ward 6 Councilor Sam Mason questioned the wisdom of allowing McAlester’s police officers to be hired bythe private company, even if the officers are off-duty. Ward 3 Councilor Travis Read indicated during the previous meeting that he did not object to the concept of allowing off-duty officers to be hired, as long as the city received compensation for the use of the police vehicles the off-duty officers would be using.

In the only other action listed on the regular city council agenda for Tuesday, the council is to consider and act upon forming a citizen committee to organize a cleanup of all six wards in the city. The agenda also calls for the council to adopt a proposed “Cleanup McAlester Program” and establish dates to implement the program.

A preliminary proposal is to set a three-week period from May 5 through May 25 for the cleanup program.

If the plan is adopted, McAlester residents from all six wards will be allowed to bring items to McAlester Municipal Landfill free of charge, as long as they provide proof of residency with a recent water bill issued from the city.

The preliminary plan also calls for the city to provide a 40 cubic yard roll-off refuse container for seven days in each ward so that residents of the respective wards can dispose of debris from their neighborhoods.

A tentative schedule calls for the Cleanup McAlester Program to begin in Wards 1 and 6 during the week which begins on May 5; to continue in Wards 4 and 5 during the week which begins on May 12 and then conclude in Wards 2 and 3 during the week which begins on May 19.

Another aspect of the proposed project calls for a special assistance program to help the elderly and disabled with the collection of debris from their residences.

The plan also calls for encouragement of volunteer groups to assist in the cleanup program

More detailed plans are expected to be developed after the Cleanup Committee members are appointed and meet with the city staff.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

        

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