To begin Monday night’s regular monthly city council meeting, Purcell Police Officer Rodrigo Salgado was honored with two prestigious awards.

Assistant Chief of Police James Bolling named Salgado the 2025 Purcell Police Officer of the Year. He was also honored with the Life Saving Award for his courageous and heroic efforts after a traffic accident.

The driver of a vehicle that was on fire had been thrown out of the vehicle. Salgado ran to the burning vehicle and pulled a female to safety.

The big news out of the Purcell Public Works Authority was new equipment and software approved for Purcell Municipal Hospital.

The board approved purchase of a new sterilization unit, an Amsco 400 Series for $51,182.42 and a new CT unit for $305,000. The new sterilizer is smaller than the current one, which will be kept for backup. The new CT machine will provide services the old one cannot perform.

The new software from The Sage Group PLC cost  $41,210.

The new software is compatible with the current electronic health care record. The current one is not. Hospital staff said the new software will provide a savings of more than $21,000 a year.

Public works board members also approved the required plans and supporting documents to ODEQ for a waterline for Purcell Public Schools.

At the meeting, the annual PMH audit report was positive showing no material findings.

The council officially named the new mountain bike trail the Purcell Lake Mountain Bike Trail.

New convenience center hours were approved. The center will be open Tuesday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Loads must be unloaded by closing times. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

The council approved an ordinance closing an alleyway on 9th St. The Chickasaw Nation owns a piece of property they intend to build on. In the 1950s a portion of 9th Street was vacated where there was actually never a road.

However, an easement for an alley was reserved. The Chickasaws made an application to close the alleyway that abuts their property.

The council approved an agreement with Parkhill for engineering and planning services for the airport.