Published: January 06, 2009 02:17 pm      

Council denies lot split request

By Talina Turner

Managing Editor

ADA — After allegedly threatening Ada City Planner Bob Goins at a planning and zoning commission meeting Dec. 18, Tim Rhynes did not appear before city council to argue his case.

At Monday evening’s meeting, Ada City Council was to discuss and act on a request from Rhynes to split lots in the 300 block of North Hillcrest Avenue.

Rhynes’ plan was to take five large lots, split each of them in half and place 1,000 square feet rental homes on the lots. He had planned to call the area the “Lois Lane Subdivision.”

At the planning and zoning meeting, the commission decided to recommend to city council Rhynes’ request be denied.

After the decision was made, according to city officials, Rhynes allegedly whispered something to Goins. Goins was reportedly visibly shaken and he requested a police escort to his vehicle. The incident remains under investigation.

Although Rhynes was not present Monday evening, 10 residents from the neighborhood were at the meeting.

Elaine Bearden spoke on their behalf. She told a brief history of the neighborhood and voiced the residents’ desire not to have the small rental properties in the middle of a larger-home community.

Councilman Darrell Nemecek commented the area is a unique part of town.

“I just can’t see going from five lots to 10,” he said then made a motion to deny Rhynes’ request. Council voted unanimously against the lot splits.

In other business, council approved a resolution allowing filing suit against Carl Cannizzaro, P.E., Horizon Engineering Inc., Cummins Construction Company, and any other person firm or corporation that may be liable for damages to the city of Ada in regard to runway damage at Ada Municipal Airport.

City Attorney Alvin Files explained the suit, saying in a rehabilitation project at the airport, the wrong asphalt was used to overlay a runway. A mix designed for a state highway was used rather than the proper mix, he said.

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and Federal Aviation Administration helped to fund the project through grants. Files said the FAA has recommended to file suit to determine why the wrong mix was used and who was responsible. Files said the desirable outcome would be the incorrect asphalt would be replaced with the proper mix. “It’s up to the court,” Files said.

Council recognized two people with the Oklahoma Municipal League award.

Mayor Barbara Young presented the award to Chris Faulkner who has worked with the city for 25 years, and Darrell Nemecek who has been involved with the city since 1971.

Three properties were declared dilapidated and a nuisance in other business. The structures are at 1020 N. Hickory, 1028 N. Hickory and 422 W. Eighth street.

Before the meeting was dismissed, Young addressed a recent letter to the editor published in Ada Evening News.

“There is a plan in place for Ada,” she said. Young said each year, council discusses and budgets projects for that year.

Sometimes, she said, other projects and emergency situations appear and the timeline for the projects changes.