Stonewall's medical clinic, planned for inclusion in the restoration of the old bank building on Main Street, moved a step closer to construction following a meeting with the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at Oklahoma City on June 16, 2009.

Tri-CountyOK executive Director Amy Elliott, architect Don Childers, and Stonewall City Administrator Dennis Heath met with SHPO representatives Charles Wallis and Harry Sims.  The meeting focused on gathering guidance from SHPO for accurately including necessary preservation details for the old bank building that would enable SHPO to concur with the architectural and engineering plans.

Architect Don Childers, representing Childers and Childers Architects of Ada, provided elevation and technical drawings for the SHPO experts to review.  The Stonewall team learned important considerations that will be included in the final plans that will be provided to SHPO in August or September for their approval.  Following the SHPO approval, it is believed the way is cleared to proceed toward the construction contract bidding process.

Town Trustees Adopt $1.5 Million Budget for 2010

At a special meeting called for that purpose, the town council adopted a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 that is the largest ever for Stonewall.

One of the most important duties of any elected council is the adoption of annual budgets.  For many years, Stonewall has operated on small budgets that barely met the needs of residents.  Over the past five years the budget has increased primarily because of special projects supported with state and federal grant funds.  The FY2010 budget includes nearly $1 million for the medical clinic project and more than $200 thousand for Phase II of the water plant project.  The remaining more than $300 thousand funds city hall, police department, nutrition center, municipal court, emergency management, cemetery, and public works. 

The new budget provides for converting the assistant police chief position to full-time from part-time, and funds the position of city administrator at $500 per month.  Additionally, relying on its financial performance records, the public works department proposed and gained approval for small rate increases for the services they provide to residents.  The rate changes were provided to residents in their June bill.

Stonewall's water plant is nearing completion of Phase II in improvements that began in 2005.  The latest improvements included replacing all of the electrical and electronic controls, some of the high-service pumps, the raw water storage tank, and some connecting pipes.  Additional work included replacing the roof on the water plant building, and installing a 6-inch flush valve at the base of the water tower.

As part of the installation of the flush valve, the town prepared for a system shutdown that was expected to be about 30 hours.  However, Stonewall Public Works Superintendent Dustin Andersen was able to keep water flowing for the duration without any compromise of Department of Environmental Quality standards.

Final inspection for completion of Phase II of the project is scheduled for October 29, 2009.  The project is funded through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Community Development Block Grant program.  Engineering support for the project is provided by Mehlburger-Brawley, Inc. of McAlester.  The Southern Oklahoma Development Association adminstered the grant.

Longtime Volunteer Appointed as City Administrator

In 2008, town trustees agreed that there was a need for day-to-day leadership at City Hall to oversee the activities and projects of the town, as well as guiding the departments in their day-to-day activities. 

At the time, Dennis Heath served as the presiding judge for the municipal court, so it was not possible for him to be appointed in that capacity, so he agreed to resign his judgeship in favor of volunteering in the position until such time the budget of the town would support paying a token salary.

In October 2008, following the appointment of Ada attorney Meagan Brooking as the new judge, Heath was looked to as a volunteer city advisor, and then in April 2009 was formally appointed as City Administrator without pay.  With the passage of the FY2010 budget, the council approved a $500 per month salary as a token for his service to the town.

Heath is a retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant, and he has been a devoted volunteer in the community. serving at city hall and with the chamber of commerce since 2004.  Heath has served as President of the chamber board of directors, and currently serves as its executive director