During a lengthy meeting Monday, Feb. 8, Beggs City Council set the annual salary for the city administrator and approved amending two city ordinances. Council also approved hiring four part-time police officers and an office assistant.

During the January meeting, council members approved promoting Steve Barteau to the position of city administrator, but postponed determining his salary until the February meeting.

During Monday’s meeting, the council voted to enter executive session to discuss that salary amount in addition to the part-time positions.

Once the meeting reconvened, the council voted to approve an annual salary of $60,000. They also voted to approve hiring Bobby Sappington, Bobby Tollette and Chase Shaffer as part-time police officers at $18 an hour and Naomi Tate as a part-time office assistant to the mayor at $15 an hour. The council voted to amend chapters 30 and 32 of city ordinances to expand the city attorney’s duties. Mayor Roger Merrill explained “the only real [current] authority for the city attorney is the prosecution function with the Municipal Court. There’s not any authority for representing the city in district court or in administrative hearings. There’s no authority for providing legal counsel to the mayor or employees or to the city council. So amending the ordinance basically expands the duties, the authority of the city attorney to render legal opinions and advice upon request of the mayor, council or staff.”

City Attorney Rhiannon Thoreson explained the proposed amendment also allows her to appoint an assistant or another attorney from her firm to be present should she be unable to attend a meeting or procedure. “This pretty much says it’s okay for her to do the job she’s been doing,” concluded Merrill. The council also voted to approve amending chapter 30 by adding section 30.06 which adds the position of city administrator.

The mayor explained “what this does is it actually adds that position to our ordinances, because there has never been a city administrator position in the ordinances.”

Councilman Terry Whitecotton pointed out this amendment would not change the form of city government. “This doesn’t change anything. We want the citizens to know nothing is changing as far as the form of government the city has,” he said.

In other action, the council voted to approve paying CLEET training expenses for officer Cody Burton, and approved a proposed training expense reimbursement agreement.

However, following a discrepancy in the timing of posting the amended council agenda, Thoreson said action on the reimbursement agreement was best nullified and voted on again at the March council meeting. The council also approved paying an invoice for $2,514 to FirePrograms for software for the fire department.

Police Chief Daniel Gilbert gave the department’s monthly report, noting $4,420 was generated in citations. Fire Chief Matt Cooperrider was unable to attend, so there was no report from the fire department. Before the meeting concluded, Councilman Rick Roberts asked if a street sign could be posted on 8th Street. He stated without that signage delivery services such as FedEx and UPS were having difficulty finding the street, even when using GPS. There was a brief discussion on who actually installs street signs, but Roberts was assured a sign would be ordered.

Councilman Terry Whitecotton suggested the process on what is required to get a building permit be streamlined so as to prevent any confusion, or a permit being granted before all requirements are met.

The council meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. and the Beggs Public Works Authority meeting convened. Following approval of January’s meeting minutes with an amendment, and the financial statement, the council reviewed the 2026 holiday office closing schedule. Council members briefly discussed how many paid days off were included in the calendar before voting to table the topic until the March meeting. In other action, the council voted to purchase equipment, which includes four turbidimeters and installation for $35,000, from Goodman Automation & Maintenance to satisfy a DEQ order.

They also voted to table paying a $8,930.79 invoice to Freese & Nichols until detailed services are itemized. Paying a $6,200 invoice from Municipal Maintenance Services was also tabled.

They voted to pay a $3,364.64 invoice to Brenntag Southwest for water treatment chemicals. City Engineer Bill Smith reported on repairs needed on the water tower. Adding the good news is it’s been determined the water tower doesn’t need to be replaced, just repaired.

“Instead of a $1,000,000 I had budgeted, $1.8 million, for a brand a new tower, it may just cost $160,000 or maybe $180,000,” Smith said.

He stated internal repairs are estimated at about $60,000, and $20,000 for an altitude belt. He added the tower would be out of service for six to eight weeks, which would require temporary measures. Those could include a bladder or tanker trucks. Smith explained “We’ll have to either get a bladder- type thing to put up there, or tanker trucks or something, and temporary pipe to the bladder and out of the bladder back to the distribution system.”

He went on to say, “We want to get the ground storage tank and the clear well done before we take the water tower out, just in case, so that we’ve got 200,000 gallons of water storage before we take the tower.” There was also discussion on the need for tandem pumps and having them in place before repair efforts begin.

Merrill was asked if the City is advertising to fill the void created when Public Works Director Taylor Hackney left. He responded saying in his opinion the city could continue using the employees who are currently handling those responsibilities.

“I’ve been out there every day, and they’re doing great,” he said.