The Woodward News

Local News

November 20, 2012

City increases compensation for law firm

Rowynn Ricks Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — The law firm that represents the city of Woodward got a raise Monday.

City Manager Alan Riffel said that the city's compensation rate for legal services "has had no increase in 5 years."

The Woodward City Commission voted during their regular meeting Monday to raise the rate that it pays the law firm of Sims, Price, & Price from $150 to $165 an hour.

Even with the 10 percent increase, Riffel said, "That's still below the standard rate at their firm."

The city manager noted that Sims, Price & Price "continue to do a great job representing the city."

In other action Monday, the commissioners approved routine items including meeting minutes, financial reports, and the annual user's agreement with Kid's Inc. to utilize the sports compounds at Crystal Beach Park.

The commissioners also received a brief city manager report from Riffel in which he noted that the city "has taken ownership" of the property at 2400 Williams Ave. after closing on the property Friday.

He said the city's next step will be to take inventory of the equipment inside the old restaurant building, before demolishing it to make way for a new central fire station, which should be completed by the end of 2014.

Commissioner Bill Fanning went on to comment on a couple of other recent developments which he said were positive for the community.

"A new pipeline construction company has moved in on the west side of town so we'll have a couple hundred extra guys in the community for a while; that's exciting," Fanning said.  "And I want to say thank you to those who got the Kiwanis train rolling again.  I know they had a bang up night on Saturday for the Crystal Christmas opening.  The community is just really excited to have the train back."

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