By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — The City Council on Monday night delayed action on agreements with the cities of Commerce and Quapaw that would allow the two towns to dump debris from demolished houses in the pit being used by Miami.
City Attorney David Anderson said he still was reviewing the proposed agreements and would have a recommendation at the next council meeting.
Emergency Management Director Gary Brooks said there is capacity at the privately owned site being used by the city.
“We have 40 acres out there,” he said. “When their debris is dumped, Miami employees will work to compact it and dump soil over it.”
The pit east of town was created by excavation of soil for use in construction of a turnpike. The agreement with the property owner requires the city to fill the pit, and cover it with soil and seed it.
The city has an annual lease for the property that can be continued for three years, Brooks said.
In other business, Councilman John Dalgarn questioned Brooks about not staffing the emergency operations center during the weekend, when heavy rains forced the Neosho River from its banks and over Highway 125.
“I went by there at 9 o’clock Friday night, and it was closed,” Dalgarn said. “I got my information from the maintenance staff.”
Dalgarn said callers asked him whether they should evacuate their homes.
Brooks said he was receiving continuous updates from emergency crews and from the National Weather Service.
He said he staffed the center at various times over the weekend, and added a message on the center’s phone with information about the flooding and when the river would crest.
Brooks said the river would have to reach 22 feet — 7 feet above flood stage — before the water would threaten homes, and that didn’t happen.
“I think you handled it properly,” said Mayor Brent Brassfield. “There’s a fine line in keeping the public informed and creating panic.”
The council discussed working with local television and radio stations to provide emergency messages in the event of a catastrophic event or severe weather.
Brassfield said there is a heightened sensitivity among members of the public after last year’s deadly tornado in Picher, and the July 2007 flood that damaged or destroyed many homes and businesses in Miami.
City Manager Huey Long said the Grand River Dam Authority opened 15 of 17 floodgates at the Pensacola Dam, and that resulted in moving the water away from the city.
Parking limit
The Miami City Council voted, at the request of the Ottawa County Commission, to limit parking on streets around the courthouse to one hour. The spaces currently have two-hour parking. The parking spaces are on the north and east sides of the courthouse.
