Tulsans will soon see the mounds of wood chips at temporary debris storage sites shrink. The contractor began hauling chips away last week once the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality granted permission to transport the mulch to approved disposal sites.
The City has received many calls from residents who are eager to see our progress. We appreciate the continued patience of all residents. This ice storm certainly has posed unprecedented challenges for our residents, our city workers and contractors.
As of February 14, the amount of debris picked up throughout the city totaled 1.932 million cubic yards. The total volume of tree debris is now estimated to exceed 3 million cubic yards. We continue to look for volunteers who have experience working with power tools and who can work in teams to help elderly residents cut hanging limbs and move fallen limbs to the curb for pick up. The Mayor’s Action Center is receiving an average of 10 calls per day for assistance. If you can volunteer, please call the MAC at 596-2100.
I was pleased this week to participate in the announcement of a new program that will ensure all Tulsans have access to quality healthcare. A $50 million donation from the George Kaiser Family Foundation will transform the OU College of Medicine into the nation’s first School of Community Medicine. This public/private partnership will improve the quality of healthcare and access to medical services for low-income, underserved families in Tulsa. This is just one outstanding achievement that is a symbol of the new energy that is driving Tulsa to greatness!
Enjoy your week.
Sincerely,
Mayor Kathy Taylor
Monday, February 18, 2008
Mayor Names Chief Economic
Development Officer
Mayor Kathy Taylor announced today that she has named former Boeing Executive Michael “Mike” Bunney as the City’s new Chief Economic Development Officer.
Bunney is returning to Tulsa following a thirty year career as an executive in the aerospace industry. Most recently, Bunney served as Director of 787 Global Logistics for The Boeing Company. As the City’s new lead for economic development initiatives, he will manage the real estate and economic development division and insure that Tulsa is seen around the world as open for business.
Gift to OU–Tulsa to Improve Health in Tulsa and Oklahoma
On Tuesday The George Kaiser Family Foundation last week announced an historic $50 million gift – the largest single gift ever to the University of Oklahoma – to improve the health of Oklahomans through community-based medicine.
Pictured above, Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation; David Boren, president of the University of Oklahoma; George Kaiser; Mayor Kathy Taylor; Gerard Clancy, M.D., president of OU-Tulsa, during the announcement.
Schools May Benefit From More
Exercise Minutes
Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition, a Mayor’s Fitness Challenge partner, is leading the way to ensure a healthy environment in public schools across the state.
The non-profit organization, dedicated to fighting obesity and promoting wellness in children and youth, promoted two bills in the Oklahoma legislature to get kids moving. Governor Brad Henry emphasized the importance of these school exercise bills in his State of the State address on Feb. 4.
Downtown Tulsa StreetsGetting a Makeover
Our city is experiencing a new energy downtown with increased business and residential development. The City of Tulsa is working quickly to complete improvements to sidewalks, landscaping and pavement to be ready for the opening of the BOK Center and reopening of the convention center.
Major infrastructure improvements downtown are being paid for by the 2001 and 2006 Third Penny Sales Tax extensions, the 2005 Bond Issue and Vision 2025.
Debris Haulers
Begin Second Pass
Two milestones have been reached in Tulsa’s on-going and monumental effort to rid the city of millions of tons of tree debris in the wake of the December ice storm.
First, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality gave its approval for disposal of the gathered material by applying it to the land and mixing it with topsoil to enrich the soil.
Although debris haulers have been working since early January, and another contractor has been grinding tree limbs into wood chips (mulch) for several weeks, the mulch was being stored in two-story piles at the disposal sites.
Celebrating Engineers Week
Everything we enjoy on a daily basis – the things we take for granted like running water and a network of streets and highways – are made possible by engineers. They design and build bridges and towers, sewer systems and power line grids.
This week, Tulsa salutes engineering achievements by celebrating National Engineers Week February 17-23.
Engineers Week has been recognized nationwide since 1951. It was designated on the third week of February in honor of George Washington’s birthday, since America’s first president was a military engineer and a land surveyor.
It’s February, and
It’s Hip To Snip!
It’s February, and It’s Hip To Snip! Please be a responsible pet owner and spay or neuter your pets. Specifically, Feb. 26 is celebrated as Spay Day USA.
Each day about 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the United States. Spaying or neutering animals to prevent unwanted offspring can help save millions of animals from starvation, neglect and euthanasia.
At animal control facilities across the country, one kitten, cat, puppy or dog is euthanized about every eight seconds due to a critical lack of resources, including loving, lifetime homes. Spay/neuter is a humane, proven solution to this tragic human failure.
Gilcrease Expressway
Paving to Begin
The final construction phase of the north Gilcrease Expressway will begin in six to eight weeks and construction is scheduled to take about seven months. This phase consists of 2.2 miles of roadway between Lewis Avenue and the L.L. Tisdale Parkway. A landscaping contract will follow construction of the roadway.
The north Gilcrease Expressway refers to the section between U.S. Highway 75 and the Tisdale Parkway. Design and right-of-way acquisition are under way for the northwest and west sections, which ultimately will connect with I-44 south of the Arkansas River.
BRIDGE is One Year Old
- Celebrate With Us
The Building Resources in Developing and Growing Enterprises (BRIDGE) program was created by the City of Tulsa’s Human Right’s Department to help small businesses assemble the tools they need to secure contracts in public and private sectors.
By certifying with BRIDGE, small business owners have access to a network of businesses as well as build business capacity, navigate the world of business, network with other businesses and become more competitive in competing for contracts.
Tulsa Ballet Featured in a National Magazine
The Tulsa Ballet has been featured on the cover of the February/March issue of “Pointe,” a national ballet magazine.
The article highlights the Ballet’s growth and transformation into an exceptional theatrical company which merits national attention, despite coming from outside of the major metropolitan areas. TheTulsa Ballet Company’s plan for the next 18 months includes performances in Joyce Theater in New York City, as well as shows in Italy and South Korea.
National Salute to
Hospitalized Veterans
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor visited the Veterans Administration’s Tulsa Outpatient Clinic this week in honor of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans is celebrated February 10-16. The purpose of the program is to pay tribute and express appreciation to hospitalized veterans, increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical center, and encourage citizens to visit hospitalized veterans and to become involved as volunteers.
Photo caption: Veterans Affairs Representatives Deborah Yott and Joe Marengo took Mayor Taylor on a tour of the facility, while meeting with patients, and introducing her to clinic staff.
Read more about Veterans Affairs in Tulsa
Mayor, Councilor Westcott
Welcome Billy Casper Golf
Mayor Kathy Taylor and Councilor Rick Westcott welcomed Billy Casper Golf Inc. to Tulsa at a reception held Feb. 17 at Page Belcher Golf Course. Approximately 50 residents near Page Belcher, as well as members of the Park Board and Golf Course Advisory Task Force, attended the reception.
Billy Casper Golf has entered into a contract with the City of Tulsa to manage the Page Belcher and Mohawk golf courses. The agreement includes operations, marketing & publicity, agronomy, food & beverage, human resources, accounting, player development, information technology and strategic planning.
Mayor Taylor described the arrangement as a “win-win situation demonstrating public and private partnership.” The citizen-led task force had recommended Billy Casper from among six proposals the City received for golf course management.