Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Workshop

Ward I,
Yesterday I attended the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Regional Workshop in Oklahoma City at the Francis Tuttle Technology Center. There, I learned more about ideas, tips, tools and inspiration to help improve the aesthetics of Guthrie. I am especially interested in finding resources to improve the Hwy 33/I 35 corridor in Ward I. The area there needs to aesthetic enhancements with more trees, flowers, signs, etc. to bring people into town potentially spend some time and money.
I sat down with the city council on the 10th of April and included this enhancement idea into our strategic planning. I hope these improvements make Guthrie a better place to work and live.

Press Release-April 18, 2010

Councilman’s Second Book Hits Shelves

-Taking Sides: Clashing Views in State & Local Government available from McGraw Hill

GUTHRIE-As City Councilman for Guthrie Ward I, John Wood, Ph.D. brought a unique perspective to his latest book, "Taking Sides: Clashing Views in State and Local Government."

Wood also works as a political science professor at Rose State College. His interest in local issues led him to develop the class, State and Local Government. His search for an engaging and relevant textbook ended with him developing his own.

“I use books from the Taking Sides series in my other classes. I asked McGraw-Hill if they had one for state and local politics. They didn’t, but ask me to write one for them,” said Wood.

Wood plans to use the book in class next year. Nearly 100 college professors throughout the country have also expressed interest in the book.

“I found other Taking Sides volumes to be great tools to get students really engaged with the course information. I hope this book encourages students to become more active in their communities.”

The book examines both sides of 19 issues relates to local government. The book is divided into sections on governors; intergovernmental relations; courts, police and corrections; state legislators; suburbs, cities and schools; and state and local policymaking. Topics range from “Should the Pentagon Take over the National Guard During Disasters?” to “Is Property Tax an Appropriate Revenue Source for State and Local Governments?”

Wood donated a copy of the book to the Guthrie Public Library, and it is also available through many online book retailers.

You can learn more about John Wood’s state and local government activities at his website
WoodforGuthrie.blogspot.com.

Each Taking Sides volume presents current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is framed with a summary, introduction and postscript or challenge questions. Learn more about the series at www.McGraw-Hill.com.

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Ward I,

We had a retreat Saturday, April 10th from 8:00am-noon in the Third Floor Conference Room in City Hall.

I am excited that we are finally working toward building a consistent vision for the future of Guthrie. Rebecca Eastham from Meridian Technology was the facilitator for the event, which helped get us through an aggressive agenda in the time allotted.

By the end of the month, we'll have a rough draft of our vision, mission, values, as well as short term and long term project priorities. This strategic plan will enable us to make decisions that will be coherent instead of just reacting to problems that come up.

We will have a plan to guide Guthrie. This summer I would like to have a card with this strategic plan and walk around the ward giving it out to everyone.
John

McGraw Hill published my book on state and local government

Ward I,
Just to let you know that McGraw Hill published my first edited book: Taking Sides: Clashing Views in State and Local Government. I will donate books to the city and to the Guthrie Library.

John

BUDGET PROCESS WORKSHOP

Ward I,
I recently attended the Oklahoma Municipal League
BUDGET PROCESS WORKSHOP on Friday, February 12, 2010
It was not too far from where I work.
The Professional Training & Education Center
Rose State College in Midwest City.
The instructor was Mike Crawford, CPA, of Crawford & Associates, PC.

We learned a lot about budgeting. Topics covered were:
Overview of Municipal Budgeting
􀂄 Oklahoma Budget Laws
􀂄 Revenue Sources & Limitations
􀂄 Budget Preparation Process
􀂄 Budget Monitoring & Control
􀂄 Budget Policy Issues
􀂄 Purpose-Based Budgeting
􀂄 Encumbrance Accounting

I feel I have a better grasp of how to create a budget now.
I'm glad to do this 7-hour training because it gives me better tools
to represent my constituents!

Water & Environment Summit

Ward I,
I'm attending the Oklahoma Municipal League's
& Oklahoma Municipal Utility Provider's
Water & Environment Summit to learn more about city government.
I'm working toward a certificate in Municipal government.
So far, I have 17 hours and will pick up another 8 today.

The agenda is below for the Summit today.

Water, Environment, and Economic Growth: Are They
Compatible? Are we regulating ourselves
out of the game?
Will There be a Drop to Drink? Will changes
in the law and regulations “dry up” municipal water supplies?
Straw into Gold: How About Composting Sludge into a
Saleable Product? Find out who’s doing it now.
Regulations, NOV’s and Consent Orders
Who’s out there to help you — REALLY? What new regulations
should we know about?
Utility Rates Structures: Who’s Driving the Bus?
Financing? Regulations? Aging Infrastructure? Growth?
Who pays and who can help you?
Automated Meter Reading’s Hot in Oklahoma
Are Municipalities Going to End Up Treating Storm
Water/Non-point Sources? Why & what are some
municipalities doing about it?
Rural Water Issues and Contracting Update
Will we have the long awaited answer to the Guthrie
cases? Who will be next? Smart contracting can avoid
many problems.

Attended a code enforcement workshop

Ward I,
Just spent the day at the Double Tree in Tulsa for the Oklahoma Municipal League's Code Enforcement Pre Conference Workshop.

I learned about Property Maintenance Codes to improve both the appearance and safety of housing stock in our communities. These codes are used as a tool to improve neighborhoods and assure acceptable standards for rental properties.
I also learned about effective code enforcement for small cities like Guthrie. As you know, times of economic challenge hit smaller communities the hardest. Yet, communities must keep themselves safe and attractive both to retain existing residents and attract new ones. Code enforcement can be done on a small but effective scale in small cities utilizing limited resources.
Additionally, I learned more about signage. Whether commercial or campaign signs, I want to work to change the ordinance in Guthrie to make it easier to follow.
Finally, I learned more about Dealing with Dilapidated housing. I learned the fundamentals of state law relating to dilapidation that can provide guidance on the do’s and don’ts of public nuisance dilapidation demolition.

I am working toward learning more about city government by gaining my Certificate of Municipal Officer (CMO) from the Oklahoma Municipal League. I am almost half way there with 17 of 40 hours completed. I hope that obtaining my CMO will help serve my constituents better.


Thanks,
John