Muskogee council approves permit time for 926 Court St., closes consent order, backs drainage, wastewater purchases and multiple grants

The City of Muskogee City Council and related authorities on Jan. 27 approved a set of routine and substantive actions including allowing the owner of a deteriorated house to seek a remodel permit, authorizing payment to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to close a long‑running consent order, approving an engineering study for stormwater detention in the Muskogee Medical District, and moving ahead with advanced procurement for major wastewater treatment equipment.

In the meeting’s most contested item, the council held a public hearing on an appeal of a Uniform Building Code Appeals Board finding that the structure at 926 Court Street is dilapidated and a public nuisance. City staff member Sarah Winkle summarized that the board upheld earlier findings that the building was open to the elements, had broken windows and a collapsed front porch. The appellant, identified in the record as Miss Scott and speaking as the daughter of the property’s former resident Willie Mae Robbins, asked the council for time to rehabilitate the house and said a contractor had inspected the interior and indicated the house was structurally sound.

The council voted to permit the appellant to apply for a remodel permit within 30 days, with a possible extension to 60 days to obtain that permit; the council directed that the applicant provide an update to the council in about six months and noted that, under city ordinance, the permit-holder would have up to one year from issuance to complete work to make the house habitable. Council members said demolition could proceed if the permit is not obtained or if required work is not completed. The motion passed on roll call.

Why it matters: The decision gives a family an opportunity to pursue rehabilitation while preserving the city’s regulatory ability to require repair or demolition if the work is not begun or completed.

The council also approved staff’s recommendation to authorize the Muskogee Municipal Authority to pay a $25,000 penalty to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) in lieu of completing a previously agreed supplemental environmental project (SEP) tied to consent order number 21‑093. City staff explained the SEP — originally a $25,000 stormwater project to build an impervious parking lot at a public works site — could not be completed because the property was owned by OG&E and the city’s attempts to acquire it were unsuccessful. Staff recommended closing the consent order by paying the $25,000 from sanitary sewer funds to avoid continued correspondence with ODEQ; the motion passed on roll call.

The Muskogee Municipal Authority authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holloway, Updike & Bellen (referred to in the record as “Hub/Holloway Updike & Bellen”) to perform a drainage study for the Muskogee Medical District and a detention-pond feasibility study for property behind the hospital (the former site of the Heritage Nursing Home). Staff said seven firms submitted qualifications, three were interviewed, and the selection committee (public works director, assistant director, stormwater officer, street superintendent and deputy planning director) recommended Holloway Updike & Bellen. The motion passed on roll call.

On wastewater infrastructure, the Muskogee Municipal Authority approved advanced procurement for major treatment equipment to avoid long lead times during plant construction. The authoritative record lists three purchases: a sequential batch reactor (SBR) with submersible pumping equipment from Parkson for $3,949,778; a UV disinfection system from Trojan for $595,800; and dewatering equipment from GEA Westfalia for $626,000. Staff said these purchases are for advanced procurement only and the equipment will not be ordered until construction is underway. The motion passed on roll call.

Budget and grants: The council approved two budget amendments (Resolution No. 3022 for the Muskogee Municipal Authority and Resolution No. 3021 for city funds) to recognize additional revenues and expenses and to account for recent or unanticipated items. Staff recommended approval for both. The council also authorized staff to submit letters of inquiry (LOIs) to the Muskogee Foundation for multiple projects and amounts including a $55,000 request for a mobile command trailer; $6,000,000 in street-rehab matching funds (six years); $80,000 for adult/juvenile community service; $86,363 matching for a heavy-rescue truck; Rooney Park planning matching funds $80,000; Hatbox RV Park improvements design $100,000; Honor Heights playground resurfacing $40,000; Honor Heights pickleball conversion $35,000; code enforcement vehicle matching $118,820; and four years of Muskogee Police Department body camera matching funds at $60,630 per year. The council added an item in the meeting to request $199,400 for the Muskogee Teen Center Youth Volunteer Corps program; staff recommended approval including that added item. The motion to submit the LOIs, as amended, passed on roll call.

Housing study and other professional services: The council approved the selection of Community Scale to perform a comprehensive housing study for the City of Muskogee. Staff said nine proposals were received; Community Scale was selected by a review committee and the study would be paid from the city’s housing incentive budget pending council approval. The motion passed on roll call.

Appointments and routine items: The council approved routine items on the consent agenda including minutes, claims, and a series of board and commission appointments (including Tom Martindale to the Parks & Recreation Board; Sarah Taliferro to the Wellness Initiative; Michelle Farris to the Muskogee Housing Authority to fill an unexpired term; among others). All consent agenda items and appointments were approved on roll call.

Executive session outcomes: After an executive session called under Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes for economic development and personnel and legal matters, the council returned to open session and approved, by roll call, the economic development proposal discussed for “Project EB‑202406,” approved settlement of a pending tort claim (CA‑42‑2024), and approved employment/contract items for the city attorney and city clerk as discussed in executive session. The record includes one recorded abstention on an executive-session item noted in the transcript; the council nonetheless moved the items on the open‑session motions.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Appeal re 926 Court Street: Motion to permit remodel-permit application within 30 days (possible 60‑day extension to obtain permit), update in 6 months, one year to complete work; outcome: approved (roll call). - ODEQ consent order 21‑093: Authorize payment of $25,000 from sanitary sewer funds to close the consent order; outcome: approved (roll call). - Drainage study (Holloway, Updike & Bellen): Authorize city manager to negotiate/execute contract; outcome: approved (roll call). - Wastewater equipment procurements: Parkson SBR $3,949,778; Trojan UV $595,800; GEA Westfalia dewatering $626,000; outcome: approved (roll call). - Muskogee Foundation LOIs (multiple projects listed above, plus Muskogee Teen Center $199,400): Approve submission; outcome: approved (roll call). - Comprehensive housing study (Community Scale): Approve scope and funding source (housing incentive budget); outcome: approved (roll call). - Executive-session items: Approve economic development proposal for Project EB‑202406; approve settlement for CA‑42‑2024; approve contracts for city attorney and city clerk as discussed; outcomes: approved (roll calls).

What to watch next: Staff will pursue contract negotiations for the drainage study and continue procurement planning for wastewater equipment under advanced‑procurement authority; the appellant for 926 Court Street must apply for the remodel permit within the council’s timeline or face possible demolition proceedings. The Muskogee Foundation LOIs will proceed as authorized by staff.