Tahlequah council approves vehicle transfer, firefighter position, design contract, right‑of‑way work and two zoning changes; purchase and IAFF agreement alsoOK

The Tahlequah City Council on April 7 approved a slate of operational and development items, including a surplus vehicle transfer to a neighboring fire department, an additional full‑time firefighter position, authorization to finalize right‑of‑way offers for the East Allen Road project, an architectural/engineering contract for downtown parking design, two zoning changes and two outcomes from executive session.

Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes from the meeting):

- Transfer surplus 2005 Ford F350 to Pikes Fire Department for $1, with Tahlequah Fire Department retaining an option to reclaim the vehicle if the receiving department disposes of it — Approved (roll call: Councilor Allen yes; Councilor Baker yes; Councilor Perry yes).

- Add one full‑time firefighter/driver position to the Tahlequah Fire Department for FY 2025 (salary, benefits and associated costs to be covered in current budget lines) — Approved (roll call: Councilor Berry yes; Councilor Baker yes; motion carried).

- Direct staff to include Mill Road paving as a budget priority for next fiscal year discussion (no capital appropriation approved at this meeting) — Discussion only; staff noted funding depends on the May 13 sales tax election outcome.

- Authorize the mayor to sign offer letters and finalize right‑of‑way acquisitions for East Allen Road (Grand Avenue to East Bypass) — Approved (motion seconded and carried; specific roll‑call names recorded on the motion sheet during the meeting).

- Authorize mayor to enter into an agreement for architectural and engineering services with HSE Architects for a downtown parking/retaining wall/pedestrian bridge project (EDA grant funding; award just under $2,000,000 with a local match of about $400,000) — Approved (Council consensus; recorded yes votes). City staff said the EDA award is about $1.98 million and the local match about $400,000; match funds were identified as ARPA and must be obligated per federal timelines.

- Approve the Telefonica (Tahlequah) Transportation Safety Action Plan (SS4A) — Approved; see separate article for full details.

- Zoning change at 604 South College Avenue from RS‑3 (single‑family high density) to RM‑3 (multifamily high density) to allow replacement multiunit construction — Approved (planning staff recommended approval; planning commission had recommended approval).

- Zoning change at 1107 and 1109 West Fourth Street from RS‑2 (single‑family medium density) to RM‑3 (multifamily high density) — Approved (planning staff recommended approval; planning commission had recommended approval).

- Executive session outcomes: council authorized the city to approve the FY 2026 agreement with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and approved the purchase of real property discussed in executive session (near Tahlequah Falls River Airport and a parcel near Quinn Avenue). Council reported no votes were taken in executive session; final approvals were taken upon return to open session.

Meeting notes and context: Chief Casey Bagley presented the surplus vehicle and the firefighter position requests. City administrator Taylor Tannehill and planning director Kate Hardick provided background on right‑of‑way work, grant match requirements and zoning recommendations. Council members emphasized collaboration among departments and the need to preserve options for county reallocation of surplus equipment.

Ending: The council approved multiple administrative and planning steps that clear the way for design work, property transactions and further program implementation. Several of the approvals — notably the HSE contract and the East Allen Road acquisitions — hinge on subsequent right‑of‑way negotiations and grant/project feasibility work and will require additional steps and funding commitments before construction starts.