Claremore council adopts budget, accepts audit, approves multiple contracts and grant application

The Claremore City Council on multiple recorded motions approved the city’s fiscal-year budget, accepted the independent auditor’s report for FY2023–24, and approved or renewed several service and procurement contracts, as well as authorizing the city’s FY2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.

Council members opened and closed a public hearing on the budget before moving to a motion to approve the budget. City staff described the budget as including roughly $20 million for infrastructure work, rollover funds of about $10.5 million, and a total operating budget figure given in the presentation as “113,000,000.” Staff said one new full‑time position — an animal control officer — was added and that merit-based hourly raises were being restored for non‑bargaining hourly employees. The council approved the budget by recorded roll calls.

Auditor’s report: The council accepted a draft audited financial statement for the year ending June 30, 2024, presented by auditor Kirk Vanderslice of Keychron Company. Vanderslice said auditors would issue a final report after formal acceptance and that they issued a clean, unmodified opinion on the financial statements, internal controls and federal program compliance (the FEMA grant was the major program tested). Council voted to accept the audit.

Contracts and renewals: Council approved or ratified several contracts and renewals during the meeting. Actions recorded on the agenda and passed by motions or roll call include: - Renewal/extension of an electrical line‑clearance contract with Right Tree Service, described in the agenda at an amount shown as $803,000 (staff said annual allocations are typically $750,000 and the current-year appropriation had been reduced to $600,000 with rollover funds covering the balance). Council approved the renewal. - Extension of an existing hauling services contract with Ashlock Construction / Dump Truck Pros for another year at the same rates as the original bid; council approved the renewal. - Annual renewal of recycling-education services with the MET at $49,000; council approved the renewal after staff described high volumes of cardboard, plastics and aluminum handled at the recycling center and explained the cost-share for household hazardous disposal events. - Renewal of the city’s general liability and vehicle insurance program through OMAG (noted in the discussion); staff told the council the renewal included a market-driven increase and the council approved continuation of the coverage. - Approval of a five‑year ambulance services contract extension with Pafford (the vendor said they have provided service in Claremore since 2005); the council approved the contract.

CDBG application: Council opened and closed a public hearing and then voted to authorize staff and the mayor to sign application documents for the FY2025 CDBG program. Staff said planned projects will focus on sewer rehabilitation in areas with infiltration and inflow problems and that a low‑to‑moderate‑income (LMI) survey will be required to finalize project sections.

Votes and procedure: Most items were moved, seconded and carried by roll-call votes following staff presentations. Several items were discussed on the record before voting; where staff presented costs or funding sources, those figures are reported here as stated in the meeting record. Where the transcript did not list the motion maker or second by name, the article notes only that motions and recorded roll-call votes occurred.

Why it matters: The budget sets the city’s spending priorities, including major infrastructure and critical utility projects; multiple contract renewals affect service delivery for public safety, waste handling and fleet operations; the CDBG application, if funded, will direct federal dollars toward sewer rehabilitation projects in parts of the city.

What’s next: Staff will publish the finalized audit on the state site as discussed; the city will proceed with implementation of budgeted projects and, if awarded, the CDBG program will move into project‑identification and LMI survey steps.