[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6171151,"mediaKeyId","5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820","parentId",5394876,"title","Muskogee approves URA tax-increment note to fund retail infrastructure, initial draw $1.095M","audioSeconds",587,"startMs",3510000,"endMs",4097000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820&start=3510&end=4097","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820/thumbnail_3510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6171151/Oklahoma/Muskogee-approves-URA-tax-increment-note-to-fund-retail-infrastructure-initial-draw-1095M","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171151-3625231198eea31e210afcab2e626367/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130806&Signature=S8Jk30UCDg5FLQj~ZCVO1Lh1zNV9FYgEs6uKI3LIXx~Bk3K3BLr6evvofzjIpK~YLIKJG3HT6wcxABtFhoxVH9X2DEXDRn4Q48pysDGZWgdbR1b7pI1JkDigOZaQFB1a2AUDL7msEfD02iXRc3uX4oJos2NpEhuGK6w2yc5mOG7Zq3au9CktONOyyc96GdZGKo4oxAeDMyHMhNYYa8fWPbLn1LQK8ITTl1I1IjHF0riQ1mXJIPlg02IHHFONQrFiK1xZzUuDiToco5JiYHXJvoexNHnFHxdP7Uz0XQe0lAqEFOR0l9MXKExKRtiNq7iwGXBzG8fc0pom9Rv1-f55Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Muskogee, OK","date","2025-07-15T11:50:15Z","article","The City of Muskogee on July 14 approved a resolution authorizing the Muskogee Redevelopment Authority to issue a tax increment revenue note, taxable series 2025, to finance projects in the Muskogee Urban Renewal Area (URA). Staff and outside counsel described the financing as a drawdown loan that will let the authority access remaining authorized TIF funds to support ongoing infrastructure construction for a new retail development.

Nathan Ellis of Public Law Finance Group told council the initial draw will be $1,095,000; those proceeds will cover costs of issuance and set-aside dollars that, together with previously collected TIF revenues, will be sufficient to make a $1.5 million incentive payment under a related development agreement. Ellis said the note will be variable-rate, initially 7.25%, tied to the prime rate, and will mature no later than July 1, 2033. Bank First is the lender; the firm is the lead in a consortium of local banks that will fund the note.

Tara Shows (city staff) said approval by the council is required because the URA is a public trust that issues debt; the companion URA resolution passed at a Redevelopment Authority meeting the same evening. The resolution included a waiver of competitive bidding for the negotiated sale, a common practice for revenue notes when a specific local lender is participating.

Council members asked for clarification on how the TIF collects revenue. Ellis described the TIF split: the district collects 75% of new ad valorem and 75% of incremental sales tax generated above historical baselines; the remaining 25% of new revenues are distributed to taxing entities. City staff recommended approval; both the city council and the Redevelopment Authority approved their respective resolutions (council vote passed with a supermajority; one councilor voted no on the Redevelopment Authority vote as recorded).

Why it matters: The financing unlocks TIF dollars already authorized in the URA plan and provides immediate cash to support infrastructure tied to a retail project. The transaction layers new debt on prior URA financing (a 2014 note) and includes a foundation guarantee and parity provisions to secure the obligations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Works & Finance Committee Meetings for July 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Muskogee and its Redevelopment Authority approved a resolution July 14 authorizing issuance of a tax increment revenue note (Taxable Series 2025) to fund URA infrastructure, with an initial draw of $1,095,000.","taxTitle","City of Muskogee, Muskogee County, Oklahoma","taxId",62213,"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},6171156,"Muskogee holds public hearing on annexing remaining parcels in John T. Griffin Industrial Park; no action taken",1742,1863000,3605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820&start=1863&end=3605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820/thumbnail_1863000.jpg","/articles/6171156/Oklahoma/Muskogee-holds-public-hearing-on-annexing-remaining-parcels-in-John-T-Griffin-Industrial-Park-no-action-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171156-aaea1158e7f8992797b01ead2c294ae9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130806&Signature=URHbYbcujz~nX5ENcp7G3NidGjOqum0B9pJHl3yWji2X-Fyu-179~c43-QXu~GwcNSfNU31Ogd0NkZMfr0gCSG3t3eZfe6TtGURM0Z2j~XOYtDjN8b4FkT7oWF~k6vb3qUEi3oSIM--3XycHOLnLCQVr0FUGr70M~35kRlNKhzMx0mmTjxtMx2oznHcdboe9SXzZG6pWFSpbsu8anVSPdriczmsFrXiDJoAmGF2yKW3C4cCd4ZZxOXf69iH4wbyTT~kaq~gpYghtu0wZdxColugtI0EE4f7shjP364C7rsno7~QQkYUlJ5~O9b9A1Wbd5l64uh6OqixhFaolJSHMCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Patrick Kale and city staff held a public hearing July 14 on an ordinance (No. 4266A) to annex six parcels totaling about 123.1 acres in the John T. Griffin Industrial Park and to rezone them to I-1 light industrial. The city said utility infrastructure—water and sewer—has already been installed to support development in the parcels. \"Staff does recommend approval of the ordinance and the service plan as presented,\" a staff member said during the hearing.

The service plan presented to council laid out anticipated ongoing costs and timing for city services if the annexation proceeds, including policing, fire protection, water distribution and treatment, sewer collection and treatment, street maintenance and stormwater fees. The staff presentation said no additional police or fire personnel would be required immediately; quoted figures for annual service costs included about $691,880 for water treatment and $350,000 for combined sewer collection and treatment.

The hearing drew multiple public speakers. Resident Daniel Chipkowskis urged council to treat Polaris — an operator already on site — differently because it is already operating in the park, and asked the city to negotiate a concession rather than immediately apply franchise fees. \"I am simply asking the city to make a concession to Polaris due to the fact that they're already in operation at the John T. Griffin Industrial Park,\" Chipkowskis said.

Mayor Patrick Kale expressed frustration with Polaris and its representatives, saying they had \"lied time and time again\" in prior discussions and that statements given to the city and the public had been inconsistent. Kale also said the area has appeared on the city’s long-term strategic land map and that the city invested in infrastructure years ago in anticipation of economic development.

Council and staff answered questions about road maintenance, with a staff member explaining that the city will maintain roads at their existing level (for example, a gravel road will remain gravel unless otherwise changed), and that some adjacent roadwork had been done under county jurisdiction tied to port projects.

At the close of the hearing the council voted to end the public hearing and took no ordinance action that night. No annexation ordinance was adopted at the July 14 meeting; the public hearing record and the presented service plan remain available for further council consideration.

Why it matters: Annexation would extend city services, tax and regulatory authority to parcels now outside the city limits; where and how the city negotiates fees or concessions with companies already operating on the land — notably Polaris — was a central concern for speakers and council members.","City council held a public hearing on annexing six parcels (about 123.1 acres) in the John T. Griffin Industrial Park and simultaneously rezoning them to I-1 (light industrial). Speakers raised concerns about transparency, franchise fees and a company called Polaris; council closed the hearing and took no immediate action.",{"_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},6171136,"Muskogee approves multiple equipment purchases and accepts ODEQ grant for recycling forklift",728,730000,1458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820&start=730&end=1458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820/thumbnail_730000.jpg","/articles/6171136/Oklahoma/Muskogee-approves-multiple-equipment-purchases-and-accepts-ODEQ-grant-for-recycling-forklift","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171136-2dc2c18095523d73162b516d66722b8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130806&Signature=h8fCP-DBV47tuynRZh42ZjVr1WaCvNhtuaV9LdSqHLM1VJMZPi52RHcbSq7QJ6Q9l2lXeviA53tJbLehgJhRjHw7yEkZG9EDWDPoY5Or-Oh562JHqdcJAXf6ZpIRR6fbW65E4GYfbko6ZWF-4Eb57hLbL9IiqWIENXOxLPcJa~4lJGn9mmrhLAjujTmybatpT37hTo5QxATx38MNDd6elizFRgpa92yeC2trJ7n07oEx6xgg1OSHlmheXfAtNkGPEwwv-1Hmq~pWHXgoIdKfUGHOZMePENnMQMTo-~B8-s2QhXzB3LfqGQL3NcqPkECxZid1HgKJw9bpeSOyJEsI-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muskogee finance committee and public works committee on July 14 approved multiple equipment purchases and accepted a grant to replace aging machinery used by city departments.

Purchases approved included: a Kubota MX 5,400 HST four-wheel drive tractor with attachments for the Environmental Control Division for $52,764.58 under state contract SW0196NE; a Kubota KX057-5 R mini excavator with attachments for the Street Division at Sourcewell pricing of $127,388.64; and two 2026 PowerTrak 1,000 rear loaders from River City Hydraulics (Sherwood, Arkansas) at $221,662.21 each, for a total of $443,324.42, for the Solid Waste Division. Staff said the rear loaders are primarily for commercial routes, are 20-yard packer bodies with Heil packer equipment, and use Freightliner chassis and Cummins engines to align with fleet standards.

The city also accepted a reimbursement grant from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) for up to $17,592 to cover the purchase of a used forklift for the recycling center. Staff said the current forklift is old and in disrepair; the city budgeted to front the purchase and will be reimbursed under the ODEQ grant. Staff explained that used equipment was chosen as a fiscally responsible option given daily usage.

Several of the equipment purchases were made through cooperative purchasing agreements (Sourcewell or state contract) rather than a separate competitive bid process; staff explained those contracts provide pre-bid pricing and discounts. Council approved the motions for each item, with roll-call votes recorded in the minutes.

Why it matters: Replacing and standardizing fleet equipment supports ongoing service delivery (street repair, sanitation, recycling) and reduces maintenance downtime while leveraging cooperative purchasing to control cost.","Council approved purchases via state or cooperative contracts: Kubota tractor $52,764.58 (environmental control), Kubota mini-excavator $127,388.64 for streets, two 1,000-gallon rear loaders $443,324.42 total for solid waste, and accepted an Oklahoma DEQ reimbursement grant of $17,592 to buy a used forklift for the recycling center.",{"_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},6171140,"Muskogee awards $1.6M ARPA contract for water-plant upgrades; approves Kattuah Lift Station bid",674,649000,1323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820&start=649&end=1323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820/thumbnail_649000.jpg","/articles/6171140/Oklahoma/Muskogee-awards-16M-ARPA-contract-for-water-plant-upgrades-approves-Kattuah-Lift-Station-bid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171140-44289384ec638da1ea3ad8c4579582d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130806&Signature=AaR0VP7wE1ddSfRCKB6T7PHFFAhtzUrKrWIhNZCW7Jfl9JF19PjculuKIP4Z25hH7a2C~wsUpVi6--u7rLijHz6rPjkEJP5zP5R428MR8gJkEU5JhpamEhH3svB4rzxMNcDcvsDDZKF8HPiF5uQ0qqmabCrJOYuy7krALGHs1iEDjFVNycwoMr94x8H2mQ9cJL~DCUjXL832tlWJ41kT5sPKFo09rgf4Scp-bhryJEKB3BhlKqIBfL004f267XNPSLJCCjK7Dfn2KYutwQIDN0XCq0aZeig2X5jLVdlpn~WjPIex6oNMo7Ku8Xvl7sFYJHvhdABHjgFQ3jEQ-azkgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muskogee finance committee on July 14 approved a $1,600,000 contract with Cook Consulting LLC for ARPA-funded water treatment plant improvements (project 2025010). Staff described the work as replacing two 700-horsepower pumps, adding variable-frequency drives (VFDs) mounted on motor skids, replacing piping, check valves, actuators, and installing flow meters tied into the city SCADA system; spare parts for the VFDs are included.

\"The scope of this project will be to replace 2 700 horsepower pumps and add variable frequency drives for each pump... Flow meters will also be installed and tied to the SCADA system for control and monitoring,\" a staff member said. Staff recommended approval; council approved the motion.

Separately, council approved the lowest and best bid of $675,881 (BEDICO Inc., as stated on the agenda) for the Kattuah Lift Station No. 16 project (project 2025003). Staff said the work will include demolition of the existing station, construction of a new manufactured equipment enclosure system, a new lift station with two self-priming pumps, a standby generator, three new manholes, two wet wells, new electrical service and an automatic transfer switch, and perimeter fencing.

Staff noted these projects will support wastewater collection and treatment needs for the east-side area near York Street and Harris Road, and said the projects are recommended for approval.

Why it matters: Replacing major pumps and upgrading lift-station infrastructure improves reliability of water distribution and wastewater collection; the ARPA contract uses federal recovery funds to accelerate needed plant upgrades.","Council approved an ARPA-funded contract with Cook Consulting LLC for $1,600,000 to replace two 700-horsepower pumps, install variable-frequency drives and SCADA-connected flow meters at a water treatment plant, and separately approved a $675,881 bid for Kattuah Lift Station No. 16 construction.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6171145,"Muskogee rolls out SeeClickFix app for nonemergency service requests",302,1232000,1534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820&start=1232&end=1534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394876-9091abeefa834718eb8d43791ae33820/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6171145/Oklahoma/Muskogee-rolls-out-SeeClickFix-app-for-nonemergency-service-requests","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171145-ea4d243433f8aae2e56e18179edbca90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130806&Signature=DuhoAOmqsze5f0a188hv31iwMnmk2XDSImGVsMsZznRhUmxm3j86jTuX4J2QKt9sD5Di-5ek4PTlBz1Kz24EfbFMW5gtz9m8nwXB0vPoHEO54y0~CHqc32ENaRWGNaMCpu9fcpJOr5tzJhv1eVnjHDfrRWsQV9gyzab-Ji--cXRW1Rq9FkAjz7aWH-Yp1~svAffa1FiMNXCR0OHxc55MK0kkgPP1wCThL9ZxJi~IhDOEjDqwHbDfZGHuImH3VKuSrsM1qd3YvJjAdPM-T9Lh8ytX6OD1PKDjrelcqiNs~f2Zmv-Zur472ECRCZh0m3COP64Jeskhkai8t6df2tpQDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City communications manager Julie Villalobos presented a demonstration July 14 of SeeClickFix, a mobile app and website launched June 30 to let Muskogee residents report nonemergency issues and track city responses. Villalobos said the app allows users to take a photo, geo-tag the location, submit details and follow status updates.

Villalobos described municipal benefits including 24/7 reporting, a data dashboard for trend analysis and streamlined work-orders for city departments. She cited results from other municipalities: Tulsa, Oklahoma reduced average repair time by 40% after implementation; Waco, Texas increased citizen participation by 60%; Broken Arrow saw a 47% increase in resolved service requests within a year.

Staff said the city will continue training and onboarding staff and run a public awareness campaign. Villalobos walked council through how to download the app: search SeeClickFix in the App Store or Play Store, then search Muskogee within the app to connect to city services. No formal council action was required; the item was presented as an informational report.

Why it matters: The app gives residents a direct, trackable channel for nonemergency requests and gives the city data to prioritize maintenance and plan operations.","City communications manager Julie Villalobos demonstrated SeeClickFix, a mobile and web app launched June 30 that lets residents report nonemergency issues (potholes, tall grass, dilapidated properties), track status, attach photos and communicate with city departments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Muskogee approves URA tax-increment note to fund retail infrastructure, initial draw $1.095M

Muskogee holds public hearing on annexing remaining parcels in John T. Griffin Industrial Park; no action taken

Muskogee approves multiple equipment purchases and accepts ODEQ grant for recycling forklift

Muskogee awards $1.6M ARPA contract for water-plant upgrades; approves Kattuah Lift Station bid

Muskogee rolls out SeeClickFix app for nonemergency service requests