City Council talks mental health facility; July 4 weekend

The Blackwell City Council met Thursday night to approve several appointments to the library board and planning board, and to provide an update on the planned Grand Lake Mental Health facility.

The Council heard from officials with the Top of Oklahoma Museum, Golf Course Authority, Blackwell Industrial Authority, Blackwell Economic Development Authority, Blackwell Lake Trust and tourism board. Tourism officials told the Council that they would like $2,000 in additional funding for the 4th of July weekend. Because the holiday falls on a Sunday, they said they would like to have festivities on that Saturday, July 3, as well.

They hope to have live music and sports professionals for an event July 3 at the Blackwell Skatepark in Memorial Park. Officials noted that the parade, bike contest and fireworks would be July 4, and said they are excited for the weekend-long Independence Day. They said they hope to give Blackwell residents a weekend to remember. The Council approved the funding request and then a list of appointments.

Jim Long was reappointed as Blackwell’s Municipal Court judge for a 2-year term; Ray Shreck and Brenda Pennington were reappointed to 3-year terms on the Blackwell Public Library Board; Jerry Kellum, Mike Jeffers and Ed Urban were reappointed to 3-year terms on the Planning Board Commission; and Larry McChristian was appointed to complete an unexpired term on the commission. The Council then declared ambulance No. 45 at the Blackwell Fire Department as surplus.

The meeting ended with a declaration from Mayor T.J. Greenfield that he and city administrative staff recently met with Larry Smith, chief executive officer of Grand Lake Mental Health Center. “The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the former Huston School location as the site of their proposed 24/7 mental health facility and crisis center,” Greenfield said. “Approximately 50 quality jobs will be created by this business. Other potential sites were visited and toured.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, mental health center representatives agreed that one of the alternate sites would be a better location for the facility than the school, especially because the new location has the correct zoning and is not immediately adjacent to a residential community. Greenfield said the city will work to secure the new site.

Mental health facility workers will continue to retrofit the former Red Cross building as a temporary crisis center. The company plans to bring the blueprints for school back to the city to be refiled. Additional information will be released when it is available.