The now-vacant City National Bank building at 5th and Main could become city offices. The Guymon City Council on Thursday discussed consolidating all city offices into the building, which at one time had been considered for the new library. GDH photo/Shawn Yorks
The Guymon City Council gathered for its regular meeting Thursday evening and discussed the various agenda items, including the possibility of relocating the City Offices, and grant mitigation.
Council members discussed the City National Bank building on Main Street, it’s possible future as the home of Guymon’s City Offices and the overall benefits the move would for the City and the building itself.
Mayor Jim Norris spoke of his desire to “clean up the City Buildings and make them more presentable,” described the condition of the current City Offices and summed them all up as in “pretty bad shape.”
Norris also expressed, he did not want to put a lot of money into the old building, if they could be moving into a new building.
Councilman Kim Peterson, who recently walked through of the building, felt the old bank could meet the needs of the city staff and have the potential benefits of housing all City offices under one roof, without much renovation.
According to Councilman William King, abandoned buildings depreciate other buildings within 150 feet around them, as well as leave them open to vandalism.
Councilman Larry Swager was open to the public’s thoughts about the building.
Although some City employees were reported as “ready to clean out their desks,” the building discussion was only preliminary and will be continued at a later time.
Texas County Emergency Manager Herald Tyson and Oklahoma Economic Development Authority, Justin Carnegie, are working on mitigation grant for the City and County, which is geared to help lesson the effects of natural disasters.
“This grant is very important and needs to be taken into consideration,” Tyson said. “The mitigation grant is tied to other grants we could receive, without it, getting others could be a lot harder.”
Carnegie, who will be writing the grant, explained some of the benefits to City infrastructures that could be effected as a result of natural disaster, such as storm shelters and water-wells.
Carnegie also said schools have never been included in the plan before, but if approved, safeguards for their potential hazards could be addressed as well.
“The goal is to get schools to participate,” Carnegie said. “The safe room is a good selling point with schools.”
Carnegie went on to explain the funding for mitigation preparations is 75 percent federal share and 25 percent local match. He further explained the plan covers the county and the cities within it, which will allow the cost to be shared, leaving the City’s estimated cost under $4,400.
“The multi-jurisdictional plan lowers everyone’s costs,” Carnegie said. “The process will take some time through FEMA and, pending adoption, would be at least 10-12 months out and probably longer before the funds would be needed.”
The mitigation grant is only in it’s preliminary stages, currently, a notice of intent to apply has been approved by FEMA to submit the grant application.
Comments
Building
September 14, 2011 by Dlcdenise, 35 weeks 1 day ago
Comment: 6307
The picture is of the First National Bank. What does the story and picture mean to say since there is obviously a mixup? Thank you.
No, that's the vacant City
November 1, 2011 by editor, 28 weeks 2 days ago
Comment: 10072
No, that's the vacant City National Bank building at 5th and Main in downtown Guymon, which the city is considering purchasing to make city offices. The only bank in Guymon with the name First National Bank is on North Highway 64 across from the Northridge Shopping center just to the north of the Ambassador hotel and restaurant. It is called First National Bank of Texoma, Guymon Branch.