Atoka council appoints Chris Thomas and Jeff Armstrong to Municipal Golf Authority

The Atoka City Council approved the appointment of Chris Thomas and Jeff Armstrong as trustees to the Atoka Municipal Golf Authority, resolving a timing error in the golf membership’s December recommendations.

City Attorney Johnny explained the trust indenture allows the council to fill vacancies and that the golf-course membership had previously recommended trustees but mistakenly recommended names for seats that were not up for reappointment. "The trust indenture says you can fill vacancies," Johnny said during discussion.

Staff told the council the golf authority’s membership met in December and recommended names, but that meeting had incorrectly identified which positions were expiring. That left two vacancies for positions 4 and 5; council members said the authority’s membership typically recommends names and the council ultimately approves them because the city is the authority’s beneficiary and property owner.

Council members voted to appoint Chris Thomas and Jeff Armstrong to the golf authority seats. Council members expressed a preference going forward that recommendations come clearly from the golf course membership, and that the authority and council coordinate on appointment timing and notices.

Why it matters: The golf authority oversees municipal golf-course property and trusteeship; the council’s action fills vacancies so the authority can operate and hold future meetings to recommend successors.

Details and follow-up: Staff said appointments will follow the trust indenture going forward and that the council remains the ultimate appointing authority for trustees as the property beneficiary.