[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6511541,"mediaKeyId","5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188","parentId",5322741,"title","Claremore staff reports DEQ praised city stormwater program; staff outlines public education and inspections","audioSeconds",361,"startMs",1060000,"endMs",1421000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188&start=1060&end=1421","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188/thumbnail_1060000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511541/Oklahoma/Claremore-staff-reports-DEQ-praised-city-stormwater-program-staff-outlines-public-education-and-inspections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511541-16eeac000c7a9a9947e550203085e713/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981096&Signature=e4XJ1DBBksBM-LTFaJnN4wbY3T5Fih--5NFDIeOhaQ9D1Xd-Bkk3KDQK~mmjB~cr8SlUAO~FbTi5nMTU8sOeLLxiae-K-UD02TAeUSDNYGduzQdnBrYigPihf6SyEZBx26WtWP2RKj4R1aAFZ4K2KtIN42coPMg0u0cdtu1CuK2pDhOGMxAP2Tm5MD08g7JT6XDWmgxoV8aXtkrRNRArfI-3DduTEpTsDr8JnnMojc~rq7AagAN4Ngz9zGCWn4zTnyO98KdryqUEIDhbij223aEnw0R3GT3XrpnkJSp4x-84jhwmwRDM~CFe9ZEy0CJB2LiwHVCAIMzL9c2SFaMdug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Claremore","date","2025-07-07T22:55:11Z","article","City staff presented Claremore’s required municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) annual report and described the six minimum control measures the program uses to reduce pollution and keep stormwater discharges compliant with state and federal permits.

Deputy mayor Scott Vaughn (presenting as the program lead) said Claremore is a Phase 2 MS4 and detailed the program’s work on public education and involvement, illicit-discharge detection and elimination, construction-site runoff control, post-construction management, and pollution-prevention housekeeping for municipal operators. He said staff reached roughly 292 students with school demonstrations, distributed 14,000 pet-waste bags last year, cleaned 363 catch basins, and collected about 4,100 bags of litter and debris through parks and cleanup events.

The city screens 34 stormwater outfalls that discharge to local waterways (identified in the presentation as Cat and Bell Creeks). Staff said dry-weather screening, complaint response (about 30 complaints last year), voluntary stream monitoring through the Blue Thumb program and pet-waste and educational outreach are part of the illicit-discharge detection efforts.

Vaughn told the council the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reviewed Claremore’s annual report and said it was the best-written Category 2 report in the state; DEQ’s feedback was described as positive. Staff acknowledged a few DEQ-noted violations are already being addressed.

Why it matters
The annual MS4 report documents how the city is meeting federal and state permit obligations to limit polluted runoff entering local streams and rivers. The program’s education, inspections and maintenance work affects water quality, drainage reliability and compliance with state environmental rules.

Implementation details and next steps
Staff said they perform inspections of construction sites, issue sediment erosion-control permits, review stormwater plans for larger developments, and perform quarterly inspections of city facilities. The city maintains a priority-area map of pollutants of concern and noted possible inclusion of industrial runoff controls in future permit updates. Staff also flagged an optional MCM 7 (municipal construction activities) used for internal projects such as the Lowry Detention Pond.

Quotes
“It allows us to discharge our storm water to local streams…we are classified as municipal separate storm sewer system, for a town between 10,000 and a 100,000 folks. So we’re a phase 2 MS4,” Scott Vaughn said.

“DEQ said it was the best written category 2 of us in the state, so they wanna use it as an example for other cities in the state,” Vaughn said of the state review of Claremore’s annual report.

Ending
Council members thanked staff for the report and asked about next steps, including discussion of a proposed FOG (fats, oils and grease) program for commercial kitchens that would require an ordinance and annual inspections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Claremore City Council Meeting 7/7/25 - 6:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the annual stormwater program report, describing six minimum control measures, outreach to schools, 34 stormwater outfalls, 363 catch-basin cleanings and DEQ praise for the city's annual report.","taxTitle","Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma","taxId",69046,"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},6511546,"Two public commenters tell Claremore council they are giving notice of alleged constitutional violations in Oklahoma prosecutions",220,447000,667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188&start=447&end=667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188/thumbnail_447000.jpg","/articles/6511546/Oklahoma/Two-public-commenters-tell-Claremore-council-they-are-giving-notice-of-alleged-constitutional-violations-in-Oklahoma-prosecutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511546-150219f950d18a53e50fece1cbff3e01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981096&Signature=Cop4GHoGQGFW6KeIGNriYXaBR4bNMt1bcXe0AgHzZ3r3lh9UDI~UR70vwBDNc7kwYPMHvP2F7a58xgZdMRQ3Gw7NvMegxvA0QjhBeWL~n78bDIe-Y8iEmnKMyXLPGLQVxuYCHw3C~dAU0xM-SSdI~6rtr2F-Ld6r59Aejt2nX1PT53sCZX2PVgUS23x6hFMCS1gNz54-X7ouBhG2cuq5ViOag8A-apzs5XFDKQ29QV8XAJKmQpvLNlJbIrYNoAQ49FHI5hImjjcPhvB1KdvOMVrCgIV0AYv2XGBXCcHYEIWqVXtMzPPDUqQu1dMkk1eMIZkUL2SB1VnHIRlVVQdVcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two out-of-town civil-rights advocates spoke during the public-comment portion of the Claremore City Council meeting to deliver a formal notice alleging widespread constitutional violations in Oklahoma criminal prosecutions.

Jessica Saxton, who identified herself as a civil-rights advocate and litigator from Washington, D.C., told the council that state charging practices permitting information filings instead of grand-jury indictments are unlawful and framed the issue as a constitutional violation under the U.S. Constitution. Saxton cited the Fifth Amendment and other constitutional provisions and said her remarks were provided as notice to the body.

Tana (Tanaqua) Downey, who said she was litigating on behalf of affected people in Oklahoma, expanded on the claim and described a large number of affidavits she said she has collected on alleged constitutional violations, including the allegation that convictions are void where state procedures conflicted with constitutional requirements. Downey urged the council to take action, saying that once the council has notice there is a statutory obligation to respond by reviewing the allegation or stopping the payment of public officials who are allegedly violating the constitution.

Mayor and staff advisory
At the start of the public-comment period, the city attorney advised speakers that under the Open Meetings Act the council may listen but may not engage in a back-and-forth response during the call-to-public segment and that each speaker had a three-minute time limit.

Why it matters
The speakers asked an elected local body to acknowledge and act on allegations about statewide criminal-processing practices. The council did not debate or take action on the legal claims during the meeting; the items appeared as public comment only.

Quotes
“I’m the city’s attorney, and I give an advisory at the beginning of the evening… anything you say, the council can listen, but it can’t respond to,” a city attorney said to speakers at the start of call to public.

“We continue to pay public officials to break the law,” Jessica Saxton said, urging council members to consider constitutional provisions she cited.

Ending
Speakers left written material with the clerk for the record. The council did not respond to the legal claims during the meeting; any formal investigation or action would require a separate agenda item or staff follow-up.","Two civil-rights litigators delivered long public comments alleging that Oklahoma prosecutions violate the U.S. Constitution and asked the council to take notice; city staff clarified the council may listen but not respond during call to public.",{"_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},6511548,"Claremore council approves Main Street contract, amends nuisance ordinance, closes grant and OKs city manager pay package",1697,2283000,3980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188&start=2283&end=3980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322741-3fc4b036feb86a0a661e3d3e54d60188/thumbnail_2283000.jpg","/articles/6511548/Oklahoma/Claremore-council-approves-Main-Street-contract-amends-nuisance-ordinance-closes-grant-and-OKs-city-manager-pay-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511548-df847a61611d3c64222ddf084b474197/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981096&Signature=HWlt8Lh57ZEZ30pHVqW7K3ayem3Fi9U51EDWa39bWjQ7ZpCJO7~zvHIjDsG9i-UpJGM39J8BVvb5cN7O5-gWyhP5L6yI4OXnP-pI5BCNdfuImXYd13Iag3~fzVwFgl~6KX7t04jcqYo0WbDVsv5R5zF~Lcxhklz0W6lvtb3-4kfHC6k3~3uFSCrGulOP4fZy8PZXLxyKRjke146IF~1UDgJovuSlUPatI6K9CBTOgMVzYqu-ikJx4vdUQ4LZOG7RMcaJL8O5BBMIuhrbO8D~Glv75ngFc~TYzFOq3-IvOJHHkVNe2Gfts5rFkDHtRMkjDAX9vL7PCClepQI4Wtexkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Claremore City Council on a unanimous vote approved an annual $35,000 contract with Claremore Main Street, adopted ordinance changes transferring certain dilapidated-property hearing responsibilities, accepted a grant closeout resolution and approved continued employment and compensation terms for the city manager, including an increase and a severance provision.

The council voted to authorize the fiscal-year 2025–26 contract with Claremore Main Street for $35,000, a recurring annual agreement the city uses to support downtown events, data collection and façade and occupancy monitoring. Councilmembers voted in favor after staff noted the agency’s work on events such as Food Truck Thursdays, Dickens on the Boulevard and Taste of Claremore.

Council then approved Ordinance 2025-10 amending Section 98.07 of the municipal code to align the city’s abatement hearing process with current practice: code enforcement officers and the city manager are now listed among the officials who may initiate or hear dilapidated-property abatement matters, and decisions by the city manager may be appealed to the city council.

The council also approved Resolution 2025-8, a closeout action related to a state-administered federal grant. Staff described this as the final closeout step after prior submissions and back-and-forth with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and federal requirements.

After a closed executive session on the city manager’s performance and employment, the council returned and approved a motion concerning the city manager’s continued employment and compensation. The motion included a $10,000 increase to the manager’s salary (with direction to the finance committee to identify a budget adjustment) and a 12-month severance provision; councilmembers voted to approve the package.

Votes at a glance
- Claremore Main Street annual contract, FY 2025–26, $35,000 — Outcome: approved. Vote (recorded in roll call): Erwin (yes), Olby (yes), McSpadden (yes), Cottom (yes), Feldman (yes), Michael (yes), Callender (yes), Brockerhoff (yes). (Motion and second recorded; mover/second not specified.)

- Ordinance 2025-10 (amending Section 98.07, dilapidated property/abatement hearings) — Outcome: adopted. Vote (recorded): Michael (yes), Erwin (yes), Cottom (yes), Feldman (yes), Callender (yes), Brockerhoff (yes), Bowlby (yes), others recorded as present/yes.

- Resolution 2025-8 (grant closeout) — Outcome: approved. Vote (recorded): Michael (yes), Erwin (yes), Cottom (yes), Feldman (yes), Callender (yes), Brockerhoff (yes), Olby (yes), McSpadden (yes).

- City manager employment and compensation (salary increase of $10,000; direction to finance committee for budget amendment; 12-month severance provision) — Outcome: approved. Vote (recorded): Michael (yes), Erwin (yes), Cottom (yes), Feldman (yes), Callender (yes), Bowlby (yes), McSpadden (yes), Parker Huff (yes), others present voted yes.

Why it matters
The Main Street contract funds downtown programming and data collection aimed at supporting local businesses and increasing pedestrian activity. The ordinance change clarifies and formalizes who may initiate hearings and which official issues final abatement decisions before an appeal to council. The grant closeout ends a multi-step administrative process with state and federal partners. The city manager compensation vote affects the municipal budget and sets terms for severance in the event of future separation.

Context and next steps
Staff said the Main Street organization will continue event programming and building/tenant monitoring under the contract. The ordinance change updates the code to reflect current administrative processes; appeals from city manager decisions remain possible to the council. The finance committee was directed to identify budget adjustments to fund the approved $10,000 salary increase for the city manager. No additional action items or timelines for implementation were specified during the meeting.

Quotes
“We’ve had an annual contract at that level with Claremore Main Street for many, many years,” a staff presenter said while describing the downtown work the group performs.

“The closeout resolution should finally end the madness associated with this grant,” a staff member said when presenting Resolution 2025-8.

Ending
Councilmembers voted on the items during the regular meeting; record roll-call votes were read aloud for each motion. No dissenting votes were recorded on the items summarized above.","The Claremore City Council approved a $35,000 annual contract with Claremore Main Street, adopted Ordinance 2025-10 revising who hears dilapidated property abatements, approved a grant closeout resolution and voted to continue and raise the city manager's compensation with a severance provision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Claremore staff reports DEQ praised city stormwater program; staff outlines public education and inspections

Two public commenters tell Claremore council they are giving notice of alleged constitutional violations in Oklahoma prosecutions

Claremore council approves Main Street contract, amends nuisance ordinance, closes grant and OKs city manager pay package