Muskogee council approves amended CIP plan, schedules sales-tax election for July

At a City of Muskogee council meeting, the City Council approved an amended Capital Improvement Plan and voted to call an election to extend the existing half‑cent sales tax, a measure council members said would fund downtown revitalization, library and facility repairs, street work and other projects.

The measure matters because the CIP is presented as a package that would allow the city to pursue matching grants and private fundraising for major projects while preserving continuity of sales-tax revenues. Councilors adopted Option 4 as amended and approved a schedule for election documents to be finalized on April 28 so that, if successful, collections could begin in October with a July election timeline the council discussed.

Council members, staff and members of the public discussed allocations for specific projects before the vote. City staff summarized the amended allocation on an eight‑year plan as follows: $10,000,000 for the street program; $1,100,000 for library rehabilitation (including HVAC and electrical); $2,500,000–$2,600,000 for downtown revitalization; $1,000,000 for Hatbox upgrades; $3,000,000 for a public works facility (labeled a remodel/purchase option); $3,400,000 for City Hall rehabilitation; $500,000 for contracted maintenance; $5,000,000 for an expansion of the Martin Luther King Center; $1,500,000 for Muskogee Civic Center HVAC/remodel; $200,000 for derelict structure removal; and $2,000,000 to a port‑area project discussed as flood mitigation around the water facility. Staff said the project subtotal was about $30.2 million and that the council added a contingency and rounding to align totals with projected revenue.

The council debated the time horizon and funding priorities. Councilor Dan Hall, expressing concern that a six‑year plan would shortchange projects and prompt repeat requests, urged an eight‑year option so projects could be completed rather than partially funded. Mayor Patrick Kale and other councilors said an extended time frame could help secure matching funds and reduce the need to return to voters prematurely.

Public commenters urged support for specific projects tied to the CIP. Josh Cotton, identified as president of the Muskogee Youth Baseball Association, urged investment in Hatbox youth baseball fields and described program use and enrollment: “Between January first of 2024 to today, we've had 701 enrollments for baseball players … you can pretty much double that” when including softball, and he said volunteers and area schools contribute to the program. Courtney Graham, executive director of Main Street Muskogee, described downtown investment as an economic driver: “When we invest in our public spaces, we are doing so much more than simply enhancing aesthetics. We are planting the seeds for economic growth, fostering community engagement, and creating an environment that attracts residents and visitors alike.” Delby Walker, a board member of the Martin Luther King Trust Authority, said the center fills quickly and needs additional classroom space: “Within 3 hours of the button being hit for those assignments to be open for kids to be registered, it's full.”

Some residents pressed for greater budget detail and transparency before the council’s decision. Mark Hughes told the council he would vote no unless the city produced a line‑item accounting of how 2019 CIP funds were spent; Mayor Kale and staff said report materials and a binder had been produced for the CIP committee and that staff would publish the requested line item detail to satisfy public requests.

On procedure and timing, City staff and counsel advised the council that calling the election on April 28 would allow the necessary documents and a July election timetable so collections and continuity of the sales tax would be preserved. The council approved a motion to call the election and asked staff to prepare resolutions and ordinances for final approval on April 28.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Adopt Option 4 as amended (amended allocations described above). Outcome: approved (roll call). Vote: Tom Martindale — yes; Dan Hall — yes; Melody Cranford — yes; C.B. Abel — yes; Shirley Hilton Flannery — yes; Tracy Hoose — yes; Jamie Stout — yes; Deputy Mayor Derek Reed — yes; Mayor Patrick Kale — yes.

- Motion: Call election documents and schedule (motion to call the election with documents prepared for April 28 for a July 11 collection start sequence). Outcome: approved (roll call). Vote: Tom Martindale — yes; Dan Hall — yes; Melody Cranford — yes; C.B. Abel — yes; Shirley Hilton Flannery — yes; Tracy Hoose — yes; Jamie Stout — yes; Deputy Mayor Derek Reed — yes; Mayor Patrick Kale — yes.

Council directions and next steps include publishing line‑item reporting requested by residents, staff preparing the election resolution and ordinance for April 28, and staff follow‑up with timelines for project scoping, updated pavement‑condition analysis for the street program and continued fundraising and grant pursuit for downtown, library and MLK Center projects.

The council ended the meeting by encouraging citizens engaged in the CIP committee and the wider community to support the referendum process and said staff would post more detailed materials online and make binders available to committee members and the public.