[{"_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",6466515,"mediaKeyId","5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066","parentId",5823945,"title","Transit Trust authorizes Donald Morrison to execute FTA grants; counsel opinion likewise approved","audioSeconds",30,"startMs",2350000,"endMs",2380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066&start=2350&end=2380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066/thumbnail_2350000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466515/Oklahoma/Transit-Trust-authorizes-Donald-Morrison-to-execute-FTA-grants-counsel-opinion-likewise-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466515-b01cf3af458454210db4c441813fec89/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933456&Signature=d4GgRlDOhAC~L~bGWEuWplvKgdBn4WbmEOW2JieAWmuavM0WGoi4dV5UkbSUQsZ7s4BJiIMwTfdGuvWplhceFVVc7qcncfcEzviRaZypcmvp6813eYeqoiXlxMVRovu0MotPY2fJmT0WJMg3yjviBziSNJ5QxaIBzjR3j7JFjf41CENlTk4o4jK~ewAaL9FklolQNR~TsksUsOFCT-1liS860E-i7BE06~fYIM8NpsQbWlncoCAbinu8EdxnxsL5kQcS2jFJEwu5NLKyrHmcErRH3EdBcpfc7yvU~194bt~GxHp5CiiFaowmmSXItvp1BM50ZeeE4WAbNaWYWiM-Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council Meetings","date","2025-09-24T12:15:28.677Z","article","The Lawton Transit Trust Authority voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize Donald Morrison to execute and manage all Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants that the trust approves, and to accept an opinion of counsel authorizing the same.

Board members said the actions were administrative steps to reflect a recent staffing change. Christie, a staff presenter, told the board the companion items were required by new FTA regulations and were needed because the prior authorized employee, Ryan Landers, is no longer with the authority. \"Now that Ryan is no longer with us and we have Donald Morrison, this is basically just changing the authorization from Ryan to Donald to allow him to execute the grants in the system,\" Christie said.

The board approved two related items: (1) an authorizing resolution for the chairman to sign the FTA document that designates Morrison as the authorized grant signer; and (2) approval for the interim city attorney to sign the opinion of counsel that confirms Morrison's authority. Both votes were taken by roll call and carried unanimously.

Board members voted individually during roll call. Trustees answering \"Yes\" included Hooton, Epps, Gill, Hampton, Weager, Williams and Warren. After the votes, trustees discussed routine matters and moved on to other agenda items.

The approvals update the trust's grant-authorization records and permit Morrison to manage grant execution in the FTA systems until the board changes the authorization again. The authority did not attach additional conditions to the approvals.

The trust also held an executive session later in the meeting to discuss potential property acquisition under applicable statutory authority; that executive session was addressed separately by the board and required no action.

A copy of the signed resolution and the opinion of counsel will be retained in the Transit Trust's administrative records and will be used for FTA grant processing going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 23, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Lawton Transit Trust Authority voted to authorize Donald Morrison to execute and manage Federal Transit Administration grants and approved an accompanying opinion of counsel assigning the same authority to Morrison after a personnel change.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma","taxId",69683,"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},6466505,"Council denies Family Promise predevelopment funding request, tightens use of CDBG/HOME and adopts unauthorized-camping ordinance",566,4354000,4920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066&start=4354&end=4920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066/thumbnail_4354000.jpg","/articles/6466505/Oklahoma/Council-denies-Family-Promise-predevelopment-funding-request-tightens-use-of-CDBGHOME-and-adopts-unauthorized-camping-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466505-77255897fa838c260f81c2086286d803/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933456&Signature=cJFYZvV25BTK9RoQLFjOk6f2VKr8OkTpZX0SwFFSf1jTXXJdp9BQIpD-lr7iymJPl1jjZ6j4vIifJXsrYwgpCuDeH1MvM7x12UNtZeDT6J35YkOiggIHnaD9~eTFOUXTw~lr8HF5AODxxYFFj5bOLk8JX3aDl~rDAkLx1JV5hXpX0w5HAA~PQC6KjoRmj5q1WQFnuS7lfhrk2-Kcpqa2LQQez03yHUlQoueznIYX5UwOadzbkl5UDMOZMrDqaaYJtLXEMObe7MxgDk2kaUHERpNbEFhQl4lwAVpTQ7TY191dfQNeepa8nbmT8ZOmzDup1fRvu7S2pT0kWWItFewS2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawton City Council on Tuesday voted to deny Family Promise's request for $33,000 in HOME/CHDO predevelopment funds and took three related actions aimed at tightening how federal housing funds are used locally.

Council members debated Family Promise's proposal to spend $33,000 on predevelopment work for a proposed community housing development organization (CHDO) project at 1308 Southwest D Avenue, including architectural predevelopment, engineering, and HUD compliance activities. Michael Tau, president of the board of Family Promise, and Charlotte (housing staff) presented the request and provided a breakdown of the proposed use of funds. Staff said the $33,000 would cover administrative, CPA oversight and predevelopment (survey, structural engineering, conceptual design) work; the organization estimated a later total project cost up to about $540,000, but final construction estimates were not yet available.

Councilmembers raised concerns about committing local or federal funds to predevelopment work for a project with an uncertain overall construction budget and an approaching HUD funding expiration. Charlotte said roughly $42,000 in uncommitted HOME/CHDO funds were at risk of reverting to HUD if not used before the end of the week and explained constraints on how HOME/CHDO funds may be used. She also said Family Promise had paid donated earnest money on the property and that portions of predevelopment work (for example, a structural engineer visit) had already occurred.

After substantial discussion about timing, fiscal risk, and program rules, Councilmember Randy Wiger moved to deny the $33,000 request. The motion carried; Councilmember Williams announced an abstention because a family member works at Family Promise. The council’s recorded action was denial of Family Promise’s specific funding request; staff and Family Promise were encouraged to pursue other options and to return with more complete budgets if appropriate.

In separate but related votes the council also: (1) directed staff to amend the Kids First Homeless Action Plan and the city's HOME/CDBG policies so that city HOME and CDBG funds are awarded only to individuals who can show a connection to Lawton (for example, a prior Lawton address, family in Lawton, or other locally verifiable tie) and to discourage use of HOME/CDBG to expand shelter capacity; and (2) approved an ordinance that bans unauthorized camping on public or private property without owner permission and establishes procedures for removal and storage of unattended personal property. Both the policy direction and the anti-camping ordinance passed on council motions and roll-call votes.

Charlotte explained HUD rules restrict the percentage of HOME funds usable for operating expenses and that some HOME/CHDO funds are reimbursable rather than direct payments. Council members pressed staff on the timing for any potential reallocation of expiring HOME/CHDO money and whether alternate uses (for example, homeless-prevention activities) could be implemented in time.

Mayor and the council framed the suite of decisions as an attempt to focus scarce federal HOME/CDBG funding on residents with a Lawton connection and to avoid policies or funding choices that could unintentionally draw people into the city in the absence of sufficient services. Several council members and community speakers said the city has seen increased street homelessness and public-safety and property concerns. Salvation Army leadership and other nonprofit operators urged strategies that support transition and treatment rather than creating new high-capacity shelter space without wraparound services.

Votes and next steps: the motion to deny Family Promise's $33,000 predevelopment request passed at the meeting (Councilmember Williams abstained). The council directed staff to draft amendments to the Kids First Homeless Action Plan and the HOME/CDBG annual action plan to implement the local-connection and no-expansion-of-shelter guidance, and staff indicated it would return with recommended language. The anti-camping ordinance was adopted as an emergency ordinance and will be codified in the Lawton City Code; the ordinance provides a new enforcement mechanism intended to protect public health, safety and property rights while allowing limited exceptions and coordination with social services.

Council members asked staff to continue working with Family Promise and other providers to explore alternative uses of federal funds that would meet HUD rules and city priorities. Staff also said they would research the fiscal impact on future HOME allocations if expiring funds are returned to HUD and would report back.","The City Council voted to deny Family Promise's $33,000 CHDO predevelopment request, directed staff to restrict CDBG/HOME awards to people with a Lawton connection and not to use those funds to expand shelter capacity, and approved an ordinance making unauthorized camping unlawful within the city.",{"_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},6466510,"Lawton Water Authority approves agricultural leases, approves vending-machine lease amendment",51,3029000,3080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066&start=3029&end=3080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823945-3d365ffd672aaa8ce63bc38b723f5066/thumbnail_3029000.jpg","/articles/6466510/Oklahoma/Lawton-Water-Authority-approves-agricultural-leases-approves-vending-machine-lease-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466510-fb06a41b602e4f26ef47f87d5f124161/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933456&Signature=T1YL0OEdouFu~DPQv8E1DR1RN0p3vcVM14mvHeIpaMP7rLEH0O577fSRJLUdZmHna3qd49lx4p9js2laOUtydQdpYxODzHINPH~7l1P9t83W48u6HR-NbJ0QbvDYmIjcYjTAyjGLdwP7KAk5W1UfQqKpNagTWzQDlfR4wlVhJzH2ACkBt~IVkZx-cms3bSAV9CJX-lY75b5ENi~N23IBnYO4-6mHj56DvmeZBtG8UAXwmplf89xKGbRJFahzdTAja5QKDeLfy~8MLFEpHTbJDmw9Z0Xo8ntCPzFRp~eOQT5uxP8EUF7I2kezbyAmSutcOZkuC8ulaBOF5M8q3SAfEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawton Water Authority voted Tuesday to award agricultural leases and to approve a lease amendment that will move a proposed self-service vending machine closer to utilities and away from Highway 58.

City staff said the agricultural leases cover lands primarily around Lake Lawtonka and Lake Ellsworth. The current leases were set to expire Sept. 30; the authority re-bid the parcels on a five-year cycle and received nine bid packets. Staff recommended the highest bidders for each parcel, producing an estimated combined increase of about $12,000 per year compared with prior leases, the presenter said.

The board approved the recommended awards by roll call without discussion.

On a separate item the authority approved a second amendment to the Hassleow lease to move the vending machine location 80 feet east on city property to place it closer to utilities and farther from Highway 58. The presenter said the move makes access safer for customers and simplifies utility hookups for the lessee, Juan Rodriguez. The board approved the amendment by roll call.

Both votes were unanimous at the meeting. Authority members who voted \"Yes\" in roll-call sequences included Hooton, Epps, Gill, Hampton, Weager, Williams and Warren.

The awards are contingent on lessees executing timely leases with the city and authorize the chairman and secretary to sign required documents. The vending-machine location change keeps all other lease terms the same, the staff presenter said.

The authority adjourned after completing its agenda.","The Lawton Water Authority awarded agricultural leases after competitive bids and approved a second amendment relocating a vending machine 80 feet east on city property to improve access and utilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Transit Trust authorizes Donald Morrison to execute FTA grants; counsel opinion likewise approved

Council denies Family Promise predevelopment funding request, tightens use of CDBG/HOME and adopts unauthorized-camping ordinance

Lawton Water Authority approves agricultural leases, approves vending-machine lease amendment