The Okmulgee City Council met for its regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m. inside the Council Chambers of City Hall, 111 E. 4th Street in Okmulgee. Council members Mayor Mickey Baldwin, Councilmen Steve Baldridge (Ward 1), John Neal (Ward 3) and Rev. Marcus Jeffrey (Ward 2) were present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an invocation from Rev. Jeffrey, setting a reflective tone before business began.

The evening’s agenda included 14 items of business, covering city elections, zoning changes, property sales, grant approvals and an executive session regarding pending litigation.

Council approved the minutes from the Sept. 16 regular session and authorized the payment of all city claims as presented.

— Elections, Budget Adjustments & Law Enforcement Grat The council approved a resolution calling for elections for Ward 1 and Ward 2 council seats. They also passed an amendment to the FY2025-2026 city budget, increasing general fund revenues to make necessary midyear adjustments.

A Justice Assistance Grant (JAG-LLE) was approved for up to $10,000 to purchase a new handheld radar device for the Okmulgee Police Department. The grant requires no match and helps equip officers with updated technology.

A 2018 Dodge Charger was declared surplus, allowing the city to sell or transfer it as part of fleet management updates.

— Zoning Changes & Surplus Property

Two rezoning requests were brought before the council:

• Item 4E concerned property off Kennedy Street, previously discussed by the Planning Commission. It was approved to align zoning with earlier special-use decisions.

• Item 4F, property located at 700 W. 9th Street, was rezoned from heavy industrial (IH) to residential multi-family (RMF). Neighbors initially expressed concerns, but once it was clarified the project would involve single-family development, there were no objections.

Both rezonings were approved with emergency declarations for immediate effect.

Resolution 4I authorized the city to declare 55 parcels of land as surplus. These properties, recently transferred from the county to the city, will now be offered for sale.

City Manager Ricky Pearson explained that the goal is to return the lots to the tax rolls and encourage infill housing.

“Some of these lots have been sitting vacant for years,” Pearson said. “Grouping them and selling them off in bundles helps clean up neighborhoods and gives people the chance to build again.”

Highlighted surplus sites include locations on W. 8th, E. Smith, N. Griffin, N. Okmulgee, E. Randolph, N. Bryan, W. 11th, Lafayette and Griffin Street.

Pearson noted that buyers will be required to maintain or improve the lots, and that lien issues have been resolved through title transfer from the county.

— Opioid Settlement

The council voted on two resolutions related to state and national opioid settlements involving Purdue Pharma L.P., the Sackler family, and multiple secondary pharmaceutical manufacturers.

City Attorney LouAnn Moudy explained that the resolutions allow Okmulgee to formally participate in settlement payouts for opioid abatement and prevention efforts.

Both resolutions were approved unanimously, ensuring access to designated funds for prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives.

— Airport Improvements

The Council approved several aviation-related items for the Okmulgee Regional Airport:

• A $485,079.50 grant from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) for runway lighting rehabilitation.

• A Task Order Agreement (No. 7) with engineering firm Parkhill for construction-phase services.

• A bid award to Williams Electric Clinton, LLC, which will complete the lighting installation.

• Pearson reported that the engineering phase is already complete and that construction should begin between December and January.

During public comments, Airport Advisory Board Chairman Lane Pilkington addressed the council, sharing several recommendations: • Adding taxiway signage and hangar numbering for easier navigation and emergency access.

• Conducting an audit of hangar use to ensure spaces are used for aircraft, not storage.

• Improving communication between the board and city staff to enhance oversight.

Council members agreed to strengthen collaboration with the board and ensure clearer communication moving forward.

— Executive Session, Department Reports & Discussions The council entered Executive Session under Oklahoma Statute 25 O.S. §307(B)(4) to discuss confidential communications concerning a pending claim: Stephanie Manning v. City of Okmulgee.

After a brief closed session, the council reconvened in open session and voted to deny the claim. No further public details were disclosed.

Department reports from Community Development, Police, Fire, Finance and Technology Services were reviewed.

Utility and infrastructure updates included:

• Ongoing maintenance and automation work at the city’s water treatment plant.

• Plans to begin eight miles of new water mains in spring 2026.

• Continued focus on SCADA system modernization to improve flow monitoring and efficiency.

— Community Announcements Mayor Mickey Baldwin closed the meeting with announcements of several local events:

• Landmark for All Generations will host a walk-through of the old Okmulgee Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Okmulgee Bridges will hold its first workshop at Green Country Technology Center that same morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• The Red Francis Park Neighborhood Input Event has been rescheduled to Monday, Oct, 27, from 5-7 p.m., due to forecasted rain. Residents are encouraged to attend and help shape plans for the park’s upcoming revitalization through a neighborhood improvement grant.

– The Okmulgee City Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Residents are encouraged to attend, stay informed and take part in shaping the future of their city.