Seminole council approves use-tax resolution, road-match pledge, utility truck purchase and schedule change

The Seminole City Council approved two resolutions, multiple mayoral appointments, the purchase of a city utility truck, and a permanent switch to a four-day, 10-hour schedule for public works employees during a regularly scheduled meeting in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Council members voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-06, described in the meeting as "providing the levy of $1.08 cents 1 eighth of 1¢, 0.125¢, use tax within the city of Seminole, Oklahoma." The council also unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-07, a commitment to provide a minimum 25% local match and to complete the proposed road project within one year of award for an Oklahoma Department of Transportation municipal road utility fund grant.

Why it matters: the first resolution concerns a city use tax referenced in the meeting and may affect municipal receipts; the second creates the city's formal pledge required to apply for ODOT funds to repair industrial roads the staff identified as damaged by oil-industry traffic.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 2025-06 (use tax levy): Motion to approve; roll call recorded as unanimous (Trace Connor, Larry Church, Scott Rossman, Chris Anson, Jolene Doucette, John Kramer all voted yes). Outcome: adopted.

- Resolution No. 2025-07 (ODOT municipal road utility fund pledge): Motion to approve; unanimous roll call (Trace Connor, Larry Church, Scott Rossman, Chris Anson, Jolene Doucette, John Kramer all voted yes). The council pledged a minimum 25% match and to complete the project within one year of award. Outcome: adopted.

- Purchase of 2025 Ford F-350 utility truck from John Vance Fleet Services at the state contract price of $73,668.33: Motion to approve; unanimous roll call (Trace Connor, Larry Church, Scott Rossman, Chris Anson, Jolene Doucette, John Kramer all voted yes). Funding: listed as a budgeted capital improvement project (CIP) for fiscal year 2025–2026. Outcome: approved.

- Library carpet replacement contract with Wassonic Construction (low estimate $61,700) to replace carpet damaged by 2022 tornadoes; scope excludes lobby and conference room (those already replaced); work includes removal, storage and replacement of books during construction and is to be funded from insurance proceeds. Motion to approve; unanimous roll call (Trace Connor, Larry Church, Scott Rossman, Chris Anson, Jolene Doucette, John Kramer all voted yes). Outcome: approved.

- Change to public works schedule from five 8-hour days to four 10-hour days (permanent until further council action): Motion to approve; unanimous roll call (Trace Connor, Larry Church, Scott Rossman, Chris Anson, Jolene Doucette, John Kramer all voted yes). The council clarified the schedule applies to the city's public works crews and excludes the water office; staff said some shifts will be staggered and employees will remain on-call for weekends or times requiring more coverage.

Appointments and boards

The council confirmed a slate of mayoral appointments through 2028 across multiple boards, each approved by voice vote with no recorded dissents in the transcript. Appointments listed at the meeting included seats on the Seminole Urban Renewal Authority (names recorded: Chevel Fouts and Ryan Bunyan), Lake Advisory Committee (Buster Wilcox; Danny McSpirit), Planning Commission (Ken Green; Michelle Downey; Natalie O'Dell) and Board of Adjustments (Ken/King Green; Steve Schoetz). Jeff Nance was listed as a certified official who was not present to receive his certificate. Outcome: appointments approved.

Discussion highlights and staff notes

- Staff told the council the road segments proposed for the ODOT grant are the road behind Lew Way Boats (described in the meeting transcript as "the ideal behind Lew Way boats, old facility") and Broadway south of that facility; staff described those corridors as industrial roads showing significant wear from oil-industry traffic. The council was asked to pledge the 25% match so the city could apply for and expedite repairs.

- The council packet described which positions are included in the shift change; council discussion noted staggered schedules are planned to maintain key coverage and that employees will be on-call for weekends or special needs. Staff described the schedule change as intended to reduce time lost to repeated daily mobilization and equipment setup/cleanup.

- The library carpet replacement was presented as the low estimate from Wassonic Construction at $61,700; the item expressly excludes areas already replaced and will be paid from insurance proceeds. The contract includes temporary removal and storage of library books during work.

- The truck purchase is a budgeted CIP item for FY2025-26 and was procured through state contract pricing from John Vance Fleet Services at $73,668.33.

Other items

The meeting included recognition of three council members who completed training through the Oklahoma Municipal League; the council also heard a public comment recounting local volunteers and city staff assisting a man in need (the speaker identified the city court clerk Susie France and maintenance employee Richie Lehi as having helped). The council moved into executive session at the meeting's close.

What happens next: The resolutions and contracts approved at the meeting proceed to implementation steps described by staff (application/submittal for the ODOT grant, contract execution for truck and carpet replacement and schedule implementation for public works). No dates for contract start or grant application deadlines were specified in the transcript.