On Nov. 5, Beggs voters will head to the polls to decide whether the town will retain its current form of government, where an elected mayor and aldermen oversee city operations, or transition to a city manager-led government. In the proposed city-manager model, an appointed manager would handle daily operations while answering to the city council, who would focus on policy and direction.

A special meeting was held on Tuesday evening to inform the community about the upcoming vote, drawing a significant crowd. The meeting featured presentations from city managers and mayors from other Oklahoma communities, including Dave Slezickey from The Village, Bob Ernst from Perkins, and Glenpool’s City Manager Dave Tillotson, alongside Glenpool Mayor Joyce Calvert.

Beggs Mayor Jacob Branson called the meeting to order, with councilmembers Chris Gore, Cindy Hubbell, and Kenneth Lyons in attendance. While emphasizing that the meeting was purely informational, Branson introduced the speakers, who explained the role and advantages of the city-manager system.

Dave Slezickey opened the discussion by explaining the role of a city manager, comparing it to that of a school superintendent. “A city manager is the chief executive and administrator of a city, managing the dayto- day operations, budgeting, and personnel,” he said. “The city council sets the policy, and the manager executes it.” He added that this structure allows elected officials to focus on long-term goals rather than daily management.

Throughout the meeting, the speakers highlighted both the benefits and challenges of the city-manager system. Glenpool Mayor Joyce Calvert mentioned how her city’s transition led to improvements in infrastructure and community development.

“In a city-manager system, councilmembers can focus on the bigger picture,” she said. “It allows us to look at attracting businesses, improving services, and planning for the future.”

Another key point was efficiency. “A city manager brings professional expertise in running city operations,” a speaker said. “It can reduce corruption and improve decision-making, as the manager is held accountable to the council.”

While the meeting emphasized the potential advantages, the speakers were clear in stating that they were not advocating for a specific outcome. They encouraged Beggs residents to weigh the information and make an informed decision at the polls.

If approved, the transition to a city-manager government would mean significant changes in how Beggs operates, shifting administrative duties from the mayor and council to a professionally appointed manager.

“The city manager is accountable to the council, managing day-to-day operations, budgeting, and personnel,” Slezickey said. He described how the system creates a separation of powers, allowing the council to focus on policy and long-term community goals while the city manager handles administrative tasks.

The speakers highlighted both the benefits and challenges of transitioning to a city-manager government.

“With a city manager system, the council can take a broader view and focus on attracting businesses and improving infrastructure,” he added.

As an example, he cited Catoosa’s successful transition, which resulted in new developments such as a fire station and commercial growth.

Calvert shared her perspective on the shift, noting that while it requires council members to relinquish some day-to-day involvement, it frees them to focus on strategic issues. “We don’t have to worry about the smaller pieces anymore. We have someone managing the operations, which allows us to think about long-term goals,” she said.

Branson and the council are encouraging citizens to study both sides of the issue and make their voices heard on November 5.

During a question and answer session, the concern from many of those in attendance was fixing the water issues.

For many residents, the pressing issue of water quality and pressure is paramount, with some questioning whether the city should be focusing on hiring a city manager before addressing this basic need.

Several citizens spoke up about their frustrations with the ongoing water problems. One resident captured the sentiment of many in attendance: “My question is this—right now, we have water problems. Everybody knows that. We need clean water and water pressure. We have to fix that before anything else.”

The speaker continued by expressing skepticism about shifting the city’s focus to a city-manager system. “Even if we get a city manager, that person will still have to push the water issue to the city council. It’s not about how we run the city—it’s about making sure our water is clean and reliable first.”

Water concerns have been a long-standing issue in Beggs, with residents frequently experiencing low pressure or compromised quality. This has led some citizens to believe that hiring a city manager, while potentially beneficial, should take a backseat to resolving the water infrastructure problems.

“I don’t care if we have a city manager or not, but I do care about water,” another resident stated. “Fixing the water problem should be the first priority before we start worrying about hiring someone to run the city.’

As the November 5 vote approaches, it is clear that while the city-manager proposal has its supporters, many Beggs residents remain focused on ensuring that essential services, particularly water, are addressed before making any major changes to the city’s government structure.

At the conclusion of the meeting, State Representative Scott Fetgatter informed the attendees about several grants either already received or coming that hopefully will help alleviate the issues residents, and businesses have been dealing with for years.

That issue along with the need for a new and additional tax base, is needed to help the City of Beggs grow – which is on the horizon.