[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6269874,"mediaKeyId","3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c","parentId",3039928,"title","Votes at a glance: Yukon council approves contracts, ordinances and appointments; several items tabled or denied","audioSeconds",1273,"startMs",4664000,"endMs",5937000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c&start=4664&end=5937","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269874/Oklahoma/Votes-at-a-glance-Yukon-council-approves-contracts-ordinances-and-appointments-several-items-tabled-or-denied","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269874-a2b99989b162d3e2079fbddb194e0e3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079606&Signature=lyuqZryg~A2TMsnA~rCzVc~YCCJ2XQwT6YEf41RHDbeSW6xr10d~ASSGm0asoQKtZhuK~9soczvwSbKFnmv1glNIkQUfEaEDXUC6SBE~hMEX8cA4zaUTmljAOEjFR-kRV0E8g~v-hx-cuJTiiTIELtKoCzASPGdJ7Fvp-Qh5qzYY-tU89alfegVHjopmyltcsK1cGwp6Whpu6KW88hEEfBeg4LidkFKlr8rzuR5Bw~8sip-qkFMJV8mKdIZE7WXpHjt1L06yeigXGI80Gb8ddqYswo-m4I02vJ-4QCo1sFYiTGScYYsV0K6iXrgu2CYGTxV0Fwnw1y6Tm~3BA1Z7vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Yukon, OK","date","2025-04-17T16:50:00.497Z","article","Key outcomes from the Yukon City Council meeting (motions taken, votes recorded):

- Consent dockets and routine items: The Yukon Municipal Authority approved minutes of its April 1 meeting. The Yukon City Council approved its consent docket, including approval of minutes of April 1, payment of material claims totaling $1,421,584.04, designation of technology-department items as surplus, the resignation of Sherry Houston from the Board of Adjustments Ward 1, appointment of Kenneth Floyd to the Board of Adjustments Ward 1, medical disability retirement for Don Reister and the appointment of Lonnie L. Courtright as Spanish Cove Trustee No. 6.

- Appointments: The council voted to cast Yukon's votes for two Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG) board of trustees candidates (Tim Crisop of Wainoka and Daniel McClure of McLeod), and appointed Councilwoman Shelly Selby to represent Yukon on multiple regional bodies including the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) Board of Directors.

- Ordinances adopted:
- Ordinance 14-72: The council amended the Unified Development Code to make prisons/correctional facilities a special use only in the I-2 heavy industrial district and added data centers as a special use in the I-1 light industrial district. The ordinance passed and the council approved an emergency clause enabling immediate effect.
- Ordinance 14-73: The council adopted measures revising water-billing rates, adding a gray-water maintenance fee, revising commercial rate tiers and creating a \"high-volume\" user surcharge threshold set at 1,000,000 gallons with an elevated surcharge (the draft discussed $10 per thousand gallons for that tier). The ordinance passed and the council approved the emergency clause.

- Contract and capital work:
- Lakeshore Waterline Improvements: Council approved Amendment No. 1 increasing the contract by $41,235.77 for a revised total of $1,004,921.14 (city engineer recommendation). The council voted to approve the change order.

- Labor agreement:
- Collective bargaining: Council approved a collective-bargaining agreement with International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 255 covering 2025'2027.

- Land-use action:
- SPUD (1225 Veil Emet Avenue): The council denied the simplified planned-unit development application (vote recorded as denial) after resident testimony; the planning commission had recommended approval.

- Items tabled:
- Ordinance 14-71 (slow-moving vehicles/golf carts): Council tabled the item for staff to reconcile state registration and safety questions.

Notes and next steps

- Several motions were accompanied by roll-call votes recorded in the minutes. For ordinances using an emergency clause, council members stated they were invoking the clause and later approved it by separate motion.

- Staff were directed to return with revised ordinance language on golf carts and to provide legal analysis on how proposed local rules would interact with state vehicle-registration requirements.

Ending

The council took action on a mix of routine business, zoning matters and contracts; several items require staff follow-up and legal review before they return to the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Yukon Oklahoma - City Council Meeting 04-15-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Key outcomes from the Yukon City Council meeting included approval of consent-docket items and several ordinances, an increase to a waterline contract, approval of a firefighters' collective-bargaining agreement, and denial of a planned-unit development; the golf-cart ordinance was tabled for further legal review.","taxTitle","Yukon, Canadian County, Oklahoma","taxId",68863,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269878,"Council denies proposed planned-unit development at 1225 Veil Emet Avenue after residents raise privacy, traffic and school-capacity concerns",1976,4678000,6654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c&start=4678&end=6654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c/thumbnail_4678000.jpg","/articles/6269878/Oklahoma/Council-denies-proposed-planned-unit-development-at-1225-Veil-Emet-Avenue-after-residents-raise-privacy-traffic-and-school-capacity-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269878-40a32bd2486c9a775c48c14a730773d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079606&Signature=YYZAW9n2Ha5jRA~tBvXDpEFZGSYxy2pTiUCZyx6PfFXEs81ya9TvbYbbHEMVcH02eUXwNgtssbGcB~w~HLfLWyhVWImDrexoRfvg2UhJmu1wI2Nrv1IocV0jV5dpaZPMjHOOACMDSTX2O1IfXAUYIBinECWCJAIK8CglyvwvGw5BUhNHTF7spOXDpnbokOUxEuxwsv0aaZxugy04A4zsfge3Z8c~QB2VsUp2pbJr69HuQXTDXgFZIbVAx78BLKkiNEKOjPh2v67vy~TU-IItcbSiZABd9UduA7IPDFFyLwVb-b9uvKC1RE0Vw9YPMteVACmz3FcKcdN2pzYYlDejsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Yukon City Council denied a proposed simplified planned-unit development for 1225 Veil Emet Avenue after several residents made detailed objections about proximity to their back yards, potential traffic and school impacts and a loss of commercially valuable frontage.

The SPUD application, presented by engineering/development representative Riz Najmi of Nafah Engineering, proposed roughly 24 residential units on ~2 acres behind remaining commercial frontage. Najmi said the project would include landscape buffers, enhanced fencing and trees spaced every 15 feet to increase privacy and that some commercial frontage would remain along the site's perimeter.

Why it matters: Neighbors said the proposed two-story units would be too close to existing back yards (about 15 feet in some places), could increase traffic near schools, and reduce opportunities for commercial development at the road frontage. Several residents urged the council to protect quality of life and consider alternatives such as one-story senior or handicap-accessible housing.

Public testimony highlights

- Sharon O'Brien, who lives adjacent to the site, said the back lot has been an unmanaged field for years and that she feared two-story buildings would overlook her yard. She said she would prefer that the site be used for commercial development or single-story senior housing.

- Nancy Seaton and Erica Swan raised concerns about added school enrollment and traffic flow. Swan asked for details on tree species, fence height and whether units could be limited to one story to reduce visual impact.

- Several residents offered that leaving the site vacant would avoid the impacts, but others said the land's long vacancy means it is unlikely to generate tax revenue without a proposed development.

Council action and outcome

After discussion, a motion to deny the SPUD passed with council votes recorded in the meeting. The motion to deny was moved and seconded; the clerk's roll-call shows a majority voting in favor of denial. The result was that the SPUD application will not proceed under the requested simplified planned-unit development request.

What the developer said

Najmi told the council the plan retained commercial frontage and that the design pushed buildings away from property lines where possible. He noted the planning commission had recommended approval with additional landscaping and fencing requirements; the council disagreed based on resident testimony.

Ending

The council denied the SPUD; developer and planning commission representatives may revise the proposal and seek future consideration, or explore commercial alternatives for the site.

","The Yukon City Council voted to deny a simplified planned-unit development (SPUD) for property at 1225 Veil Emet Avenue after multiple residents objected to density, proximity to back-yard property lines, potential school impacts and loss of commercial frontage.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269882,"Yukon council tables golf-cart ordinance after public questions on safety, state rules",562,3218000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c&start=3218&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c/thumbnail_3218000.jpg","/articles/6269882/Oklahoma/Yukon-council-tables-golf-cart-ordinance-after-public-questions-on-safety-state-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269882-3bf2784434716903701dd6996e9bab4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079606&Signature=otxXQWdY1cr2Xew0TpAHtlG~Ty6RVeTO~7Rk~bxxJjBkkwtHYh417~KOvGUGjWxNxmuBClhytmloDLmCq8XvBTKaFKpGT4noOlEN6rZWp~kRLKh6gPJDHF~2itw7uHxirnNg8b8-rYyUqgJAor9Uc-~zMyOraOnJuxBt6VxJMJBCMtjkM7j5QijMmHJqWhVafLyMizY11LzyY9CBC7tvFXya372TySHVpIQSJaLmV0LQEu7K-u8ObgXuK6pREIE4HJsoIYyKifnEV~ZeJNAag7oZxn-M7D5Ij5ozcydJJ9ddIbRYhpLTffRrIhC80JjdpBNOOa4NhFI2mYf-j3iFaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Yukon City Council voted to table consideration of Ordinance 14-71, a proposed code amendment to authorize slow-moving vehicles such as golf carts and utility vehicles on designated city streets, after residents and council members raised questions about safety, child restraint requirements and whether state registration rules apply.

The measure, introduced by council leadership, started as an ordinance allowing slow-moving vehicles on streets with posted speed limits up to 35 mph; a council motion during debate amended the threshold to 30 mph. The issue drew several public commenters who questioned seat-belt and child-restraint rules, insurance and how the city's ordinance would interact with Oklahoma statutes and Oklahoma Tax Commission registration requirements.

Why it matters: Proponents said the ordinance would provide a limited, daylight-hours exception for neighbors to use golf carts in residential areas for short trips. Opponents said the draft ordinance lacks required references to state vehicle-registration rules and fails to address child-seat and restraint issues for small passengers.

What council heard

- Resident Zach Castle asked why the city would allow golf carts on streets and whether the ordinance would permit crossings or trips on major corridors. The mayor and city staff said the ordinance is restrictive and was modeled on ordinances from neighboring municipalities; it allows crossing larger streets but does not make high-speed thoroughfares available for slow vehicles.

- Chief Korn, Yukon Police Department, said the city's ordinance is \"very restrictive\" and does not require title work; he said the police would still enforce existing traffic and safety laws and that permitting/stickering would be handled through the police department.

- Several residents raised specific safety concerns: Lincoln Castle and another commenter asked if Oklahoma law requires registration and license plates for certain utility vehicles. A member of the public urged the council to require seat belts or car seats even on vehicles that the manufacturer did not equip, arguing that children may be left unrestrained.

Council action and outcome

After public comment and staff responses, Vice Mayor moved to table the ordinance \"until the next meeting so we can gather some more information and make sure everything's tied in with state law.\" The council voted in favor of tabling the item; no ordinance change was adopted.

What remains unresolved

City staff said they would examine how the draft ordinance interacts with Oklahoma statutes and the Tax Commission's registration rules and return with revisions. The transcript records disagreement between a resident's insurance-agent assertion that state registration is required and staff's statement that the draft ordinance does not require title work; the council directed staff to reconcile that tension before the item returns.

Ending

The ordinance was tabled. The council directed staff to provide clarifications about compliance with state registration requirements, child-restraint/seat-belt issues and enforcement procedures at the next meeting.

","Council members paused consideration of Ordinance 14-71, which would allow slow-moving vehicles (golf carts/utility vehicles) on designated city streets at speeds under 30 mph, after public safety and state-law questions. The council voted to table the measure until staff can reconcile state requirements and other concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269887,"Independent HR review urges Yukon to modernize payroll systems, strengthen checks and balances",1439,1160000,2599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c&start=1160&end=2599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039928-537c02f597c6e9426ecc00bf8b867d5c/thumbnail_1160000.jpg","/articles/6269887/Oklahoma/Independent-HR-review-urges-Yukon-to-modernize-payroll-systems-strengthen-checks-and-balances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269887-07331120cbeb1a0d22ce424dfa305469/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079606&Signature=CvBouv8JNHn5gnrgp8OLJpVXAhHTVmVQKh9GM5ZaUKrZBk~fEnDu0WqnlICS4c7D7Sd~9nE6ILzlgxlUvZvOTqoqSkbUreBf4aO54aZi7TDhiwUUnhaa9QzlxTYnCEGnwrUQNmJKGh74lCLgGD~tclehDtxU5thoWNa6-h7JR0xRJgGnZGxb4Z1oMXqKl02VkBY6WKX~KI5~EXM88YVNR6ajJe4WN0Kzd~qSfeuH8wni0VClroB0FR9XA01PG-~0c~6OhrYUVZBbEsEbjDo6R~CLSxpqkhdK5ayC2l4iwEDDsYHZIL7JGo9SwRB2kyUeMHgvpnpb3C~z8qhz66tA~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An independent consultant who audited Yukon's human resources and payroll told the City Council that the city's recordkeeping shows no evidence of malfeasance but relies too heavily on manual checks, informal email approvals and an honor-based timekeeping system that creates opportunities for future exploitation.

The findings came Tuesday in a report delivered by a contractor identified in the meeting as Mr. Yenzer, who said his engagement followed last year's forensic audit and covered six workstreams including sick and vacation payouts, timekeeping, payroll adjustments and retirement verification.

Why it matters: Yenzer said the city's current software is several versions behind and recommended a software upgrade, clearer written controls and organizational changes so HR, finance and legal do not all funnel through a single managerial gate. He said those steps would reduce the risk that a single individual, acting in bad faith, could authorize actions that escape prompt scrutiny.

Yenzer told the council the review covered records from July 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2024, and that the test work showed adjustments were generally justified. \"There was no evidence of unauthorized nor unverified changes having occurred during the course of the entire year,\" he said. But he added the city's reliance on trust \"renders even audits such as these less effective due to a severely deficient model of real time employee tracking and verification.\" (quote verbatim from presentation)

Key recommendations and details

- Upgrade the HRIS. Yenzer recommended replacing the city's aging HR and payroll software (referred to in the presentation as ENCODE 10, a product of Tyler Technologies) and training staff on the replacement. He said the current system required audits to produce 518 pages of raw output and that modernization would reduce error risk and speed reporting.

- Improve timekeeping. He recommended adding timekeeping that is reliable for hourly employees and better documents overtime and compensatory time for salaried staff; he noted many departments still use written sign-in sheets.

- Clarify leave authority and policy language. The report found a prior city manager had an exemption for leave payouts and recommended that any special allotments be codified in the personnel manual and aligned with signed contracts; he cited the personnel manual (page cited approximately page 46, section b) as needing clearer verbiage.

- Annual retirement verification. Yenzer reviewed retirement data for 40 active and 11 former employees and recommended an annual verification process.

- Organizational changes. The report proposed a flatter top-level structure in which department directors (HR, finance, city attorney) report in a way that allows HR to receive and escalate whistleblower reports without always routing through the city manager.

Council reaction and constraints

City Manager Mike Castro and council members thanked the reviewer for the work but cautioned that some recommendations (notably reorganizing lines of authority) could require a charter change and would need public approval. One council member asked whether the proposed reporting changes would require a charter election; Yenzer said he understood it could, and that implementation of structural changes ultimately depends on the charter and voters.

Castro also warned council to be cautious about an ERP migration timeline. He said prior proposals for ENCODE 10 in 2016 had been problematic in other jurisdictions and that a rushed migration could cause billing, HR and finance problems. \"If we're going to do ENCODE 10 as an upgrade, it needs to be something that is well thought out in advance and not rushed through,\" Castro said during the meeting.

What the report did not say

Yenzer told the council he found no instances of deliberate staff wrongdoing during the review period, and the presentation repeatedly ranked findings as system and process risks rather than proven misconduct. The report identified three current employees with vacation balances that exceed typical limits; Yemenzer said those balances \"are going to be completely exhausted by the middle of this year.\" (paraphrase of presentation)

Next steps and timeline

Yenzer urged swift action on software and policy updates and suggested the city could implement changes within a six-month window if it committed resources and staff for training. Council members asked staff to review the recommendations and return with implementation options; no binding policy changes were adopted at the meeting.

Ending

Council members thanked Yenzer and city staff. Castro said he would provide a written response after reviewing the report in detail.

","An outside human-resources reviewer told the Yukon City Council that the city's HR and payroll systems are functionally accurate but technologically outdated and vulnerable to exploitation unless the city upgrades its HRIS, tightens timekeeping, and clarifies authority over the city manager's leave allotments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Yukon council approves contracts, ordinances and appointments; several items tabled or denied

Council denies proposed planned-unit development at 1225 Veil Emet Avenue after residents raise privacy, traffic and school-capacity concerns

Yukon council tables golf-cart ordinance after public questions on safety, state rules

Independent HR review urges Yukon to modernize payroll systems, strengthen checks and balances