Muskogee council approves Smith Ferry gas-line cost share, VA parking lease extension and 2025 employee insurance renewals

The City of Muskogee on March 10, 2025 approved a set of routine and project-related items, including a cost-share for an Oklahoma Natural Gas line relocation tied to the Smith Ferry Road widening project, a lease extension with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for parking at Hatbox Event Park, and the city—s 2025 employee insurance renewals.

Smith Ferry gas-line relocation: City staff explained the Smith Ferry Road widening project requires relocation of a natural-gas line. Council was told the city will pay roughly one-third of the total relocation cost; the final city share will be determined by a geotechnical review and contract negotiations with Oklahoma Natural Gas. A staff member said the city—s contribution is limited to the portion of the line that must be relocated for the project and that the remainder will be moved in conjunction with the project. The council approved the authorization to negotiate and execute an agreement with Oklahoma Natural Gas to allow the relocation to proceed.

Hatbox Event Park parking lease: The council approved lease amendment number P000012 with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to extend the parking lease at Hatbox Event Park to Sept. 30, 2028. A Parks and Recreation representative, Brooks, recommended approval.

2025 insurance renewals: The council approved renewals for the city—s medical, dental, vision and life insurance plans as recommended by the City of Muskogee Health Care Committee and presented by broker Insurica. The presenter noted a correction to a typographical error in staff materials: the city—s medical-year cost should be approximately $500,000 (not $42,000 as originally typed). Key figures discussed and recorded in committee include the following estimates: medical plan cost to the city approximately $500,000 annually; employee medical premium increases cited as $14.02 per paycheck for the lowest tier (described as about a $10 net increase) and about $27.60 for the highest tier; dental renewal city cost approximately $43,716 annually, with dependent premiums for the lowest tier $5.43 per paycheck (about $4 net increase) and family tier $7.78 per paycheck (about $5.89 net increase); vision renewal city cost approximately $38,000 annually, with dependent premiums $7.73 per paycheck (about $5.84 net increase) for the low tier and $12.35 per paycheck (about $9.31 net increase) for the high tier; life insurance renewal lowered premiums for the city by about $11,477 annually and added an option for employees to elect higher voluntary coverage at no additional city cost. The insurance committee approved the renewals unanimously and staff recommended council approval; the council voted to approve.

Other routine actions: The council approved finance committee minutes for Feb. 10, 2025; public works committee minutes for Feb. 10, 2025; and the claims list for Feb. 1—Feb. 28, 2025. All votes on these items were recorded by roll call and passed.

Ending: Council approved the listed authorizations and renewals by roll call; staff will proceed to finalize agreements and implement the insurance renewals for the 2025 plan year. Specific contract amounts for the Smith Ferry gas-line relocation were not specified and will be determined through geotechnical work and negotiation with Oklahoma Natural Gas.