Muskogee council approves annexation of 171.324 acres into John Tea Crest Industrial Park

The Muskogee City Council on Sept. 25 approved Ordinance No. 4275-A to annex six parcels totaling 171.324 acres adjacent to the city limits into the John Tea Crest Industrial Park and adopted the proposed service plan attached as Exhibit B. The council then voted to declare an emergency tied to health, safety and public-welfare considerations.

The annexation ordinance passed after a public hearing and a staff presentation. Miss Bodenhamer (staff member) summarized the proposal, saying the parcels are contiguous to city corporate limits and that the annexation was authorized by City Resolution 3052, passed Sept. 8, 2025. She said notice was published Sept. 10, 2025, owners were mailed notice and some properties were personally posted; the city attached affidavits of mailing and personal service to the packet.

The service plan provided details the city expects to maintain existing land uses as legal nonconforming under state law 11 O.S. §44-107.1 and to seek designation of I-1 light industrial consistent with the 2012 future land-use map. The plan lists core services that will be extended on annexation: police protection by the Muskogee Police Department, fire protection by the Muskogee Fire Department, water and sanitary sewer service, street maintenance, code enforcement, refuse collection and stormwater fee assessments. Bodenhamer said water lines in the area range from 6 to 12 inches, sanitary service is provided by a 12-inch line, and maintenance and supply cost estimates in the packet include an annual water distribution maintenance estimate of $10,211, an annual water-supply estimate of $691,680 and an annual sewage-collection and treatment estimate of $350,000. She also cited estimated apparatus and personnel costs for fire response ($507.28 per hour for personnel and $3,000 per hour for apparatus) and an estimated annual street maintenance cost of $18,906 for existing conditions.

During public comment, resident Dan Chepkowskis urged the council to "tap the brakes" and review a Muskogee County TIF (tax increment financing) document he said may state there was no anticipation of annexation. He asked the council to confirm whether the county, property owners and developers (he specifically named Polaris) had been adequately notified before the annexation process. Chepkowskis said the TIF remains in place and asked the council to check the TIF documentation that he identified as dated April 2024.

On the ordinance vote, the roll call recorded: Mike Frawley—yes; Tom Martindale—yes; Melody Cranford—yes; Shirley Hilton Flannery—yes; Tracy Hoose—yes; Jamie Stout—no; Deputy Mayor Derek Reed—yes; Mayor Patrick Hale—yes. The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 4275-A and approve the service plan passed. The subsequent motion to declare an emergency on the ordinance passed on a roll call with the same recorded votes.

The service plan allows the city up to one year to rezone any legal nonconforming uses and states initial code enforcement for derelict structures, weeds and trash will be complaint-driven for the first years after annexation. Bodenhamer said that police and fire resources assigned to the area would initially be the same as current deployments but could require future increases as the park expands, with associated costs to be determined.

The annexation ordinance cites the city's authority under 11 O.S. §21-101 to change municipal limits. The council recorded that no public comments on the service plan had been received before the hearing. The ordinance includes standard severability and repealer language and sets an effective date tied to the emergency declaration.

The council adjourned after completing the agenda.