Residents urge Atoka to require solicitor permits and improve bill transparency; website usability questioned

Several Atoka residents used the Sept. 9 public-comment period to press the board for changes to local permitting and transparency practices.

Dennis Kupp told the board about a recurring door-to-door seller he identified on a neighborhood social page as “Mark the education man,” saying the person knocked late at night, sold children’s books and asked for referrals to homes with children. “He’s persistent. He kind of forces his way into people’s homes,” Kupp said, and he urged the board to consider a solicitor-permit ordinance that would require door-to-door sellers to register at town hall so police and staff would have a point of contact for complaints.

Mayor Barry Aiken and staff responded that the town has discussed a solicitor-permit program previously and suggested residents provide information to the town administrator to pursue an ordinance or administrative permitting process. Staff advised residents to file police reports when behavior raises safety concerns.

Resident Vicky Gallagher asked the board for more detail and notes in the monthly check register after she found multiple telephone and internet charges that together totaled about $2,933 and $30.32 in one month. Gallagher said the register’s line items were unclear and requested that future reports include brief notes explaining which department or account each charge supports. The recorder and finance staff said the town breaks invoices into departmental line items and that the board could request more detailed reports or make an information request for full billing detail.

Stephanie Borman, who said she has worked with websites for many years, urged caution before committing to an expensive website vendor and suggested the town ask for two or three competing proposals (including local vendors) and to prioritize mobile usability. “I don’t see the purpose of switching over to a new vendor,” Borman said, and asked the board to consider whether existing platforms could meet the town’s needs at lower cost.

Town staff acknowledged the public concerns and said they would give the board options: staff provided contact information for the town administrator for follow-up on solicitor complaints, agreed to consider more explanatory notes on future financial reports, and the board later voted to postpone the website vendor decision until staff could present multiple vendor proposals and pricing details.