Yukon council accepts City Manager Mike Castro’s resignation and directs recruitment for replacement

YUKON, Okla. — The Yukon City Council on May 20, 2025, voted to accept the resignation of City Manager Mike Castro, authorized the city attorney and human resources staff to complete separation paperwork and directed staff to reopen recruitment for the city manager position.

The motion to accept Castro’s resignation, read aloud by the presiding mayor, specified “his final date of employment being July 2025” and authorized use of any accrued vacation and sick leave before that date. Council members voted unanimously to approve the motion.

The council said the resignation and related personnel discussions were considered in executive session under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(1), the Oklahoma statute covering confidential personnel matters, and reported no votes were taken during that closed session. In open session the council directed the city attorney to prepare any agreements or documentation “deemed prudent to properly conclude” Castro’s employment and to redirect the human resources director to complete required administrative steps.

Council members also directed the interim city manager and HR staff to post the vacancy on the city’s official website and to use the job description the council approved in June 2024. The motion asked staff to contact individuals who applied during the June 2024 recruitment period where current contact information is available and encourage them to apply through the city’s electronic job portal.

Council discussion included expressions of appreciation for Castro’s service and a brief clarification over his final day. The motion states the final employment date as July 2025; during discussion a council member remarked that the final day was estimated to be in June, but the motion as approved sets July as the stated final month. The council did not adopt any additional employment terms in open session beyond authorizing the city attorney to draft necessary documents and allowing accrued leave to be used before the final date.

The council also held a separate executive-session motion regarding the possible appointment of an interim city manager, including compensation and duties; that item was taken in closed session under the same statutory authority and the council returned to open session before taking the actions described above.

What happened next: the council gave staff clear direction to begin recruitment under the previously approved June 2024 job description and to follow the city’s electronic application process. The city attorney was authorized to finalize separation documents; no public details of any agreement terms were presented in open session.

The special meeting opened with an invocation and a roll call; it adjourned after the recruitment and personnel items were approved and the council confirmed completion of the required actions.