Muskogee council authorizes city attorney to file annexation petition for John T. Griffin Industrial Park

After convening in executive session under Oklahoma statute, the City of Muskogee City Council voted April 30 to authorize the city attorney to file an annexation petition to annex all property located within John T Griffin Industrial Park.

The council cited the executive-session authority in state law when moving to take the action. The city attorney introduced the motion under “pursuant to section 307(b)(4), Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes” as the legal basis for convening the executive session to discuss a potential lawsuit and annexation strategy: “Counsel do convene executive session to discuss a potential lawsuit ... an appropriate motion will be to authorize the city attorney to file an annexation petition to annex all of the property located within John T Griffin Industrial Park,” the city attorney said during the public meeting portion announcing the executive-session item.

A motion to authorize the city attorney to file the petition was made, seconded and approved on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes. Recorded members voting in favor included Mike Brawley, Tom Martindale, Dan Hall, Shirley Hilton Flannery, Tracy Hoose, Jamie Stout, Deputy Mayor Derek Reed and Mayor Patrick Kale.

The council adjourned after approving the motion. The transcript records the vote and the council’s move into executive session; the motion authorizes the city attorney to pursue annexation through the petition process, which may involve subsequent legal filings and public-notice steps outside this meeting.