At the Checotah City Council on Monday, July 14, the meeting began with Lieutenant Marvin Harrell presenting a check on behalf of The Checotah Fraternal Order of Police to Jay and Mindy Hayes for their granddaughter’s fight against Rett Syndrome as her family prepares to host the next Rett Run in September to bring awareness to the disease. Then council approved the minutes from June’s Regular Meeting, Departmental Reports and two Special Meetings on June 23 and June 26. They also approved salaries for June 2025 in the amount of $191,749.77 and the estimated salaries for July 2025 of $195,000 but removed from the Consent Docket the approval of claims for June 2025 in the amount of $312,040.79 due to the wrong month being listed on the agenda.
Moving forward with Checotah FOP requests for equipment, the council approved 14 Body Armor Vests from Safe-Life Defense in the amount of $14,840 and 18 handheld radios and 18 earpiece mics from Muskogee Communication in the amount of $25,650. However, a motion made to approve the purchase of a 2022 Dodge Durango pursuit vehicle for the Checotah Police Department from the Kansas Highway Patrol in the amount of $35,425 failed.
The council also took action including amendments on approving the City of Checotah, Oklahoma Resolution No. 2025-0714(b), THE ALLOCATION OF ONE-HALF OF THE MONTHLY TOBACCO TAX TO THE CHECOTAH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FROM JULY 1, 2025, TO JUNE 30, 2026.
In other business, city council approved:
• The City of Checotah, Oklahoma Resolution No. 2025-07-14(a) ALL UNEXPENDED APPROPRIATIONS LAPSE
• The re-appointment of Stewart Stidham to the Library System’s Board of Trustees
• Invoice No. 22314915 in the amount of $27,110.00 to Myers Engineering, Consulting Engineers, Inc. for Water System Improvements • Application No. 4, Engineer’s Project No. CVE24-025 (Cimarron Valley Engineering) in the amount of $37,830 to Quicksilver Utility Contracting, LLC for the Lift Station Rehabilitation • Planning and Zoning Resolution No. PZ-2025-3 (Chuculate Property) rezoning from Commercial (C-1) to Mobile Home Park District (R-M) A motion was made by Councilman Joey Marion and seconded by Councilman Ronnie Brinsfield to also declare S50’ LOT 3 ALL LOT 4 BLK 127 OTCHECOTAH aka 804 E SPAULDING a nuisance with dilapidated homes, buildings, and/ or garages and to be removed on or before August 15, 2025. The motion was carried with Councilman Tony Fields, Councilman Joey Marion, Councilman Ronnie Brinsfield, Councilman Jay Hayes, Councilman Rusty Rogers, Councilwoman Jodi Greenleaf, and Councilman Rusty Beaver voting yes. Councilman Mike Key was absent.
N2 LOT 1 & N2 W 18’ LOT 2 BLK 140 OT-CHECOTAH aka 121 NE 7TH and LOT 1 BLK 3 MERRICK ADDITION aka 728 WINEBLOOD were also declared a nuisance to be removed on or before August 15, 2025.
Kellie Price addressed the council during citizen’s comments about the flooding of her residence due to a nearby creek and wanted to know what could be done. Council advised her that they were working on a plan to try to eliminate the problem.
Mayor Tarkington also asked council members to submit areas in their districts that needed asphalt Overlay to be considered and the meeting was adjourned.
