Council approves cluster of dilapidated-property orders, debt authorizations and several funding measures

The Lawton City Council on Tuesday approved a package of enforcement and financing actions, including a multi-property resolution to declare scores of structures dilapidated and several separate funding and administrative measures.

The council voted to adopt resolutions finding multiple properties to be dilapidated and authorizing abatement proceedings. City staff presented an omnibus list of addresses for formal action; council members moved, seconded and approved each property action in individual roll calls. Public commenters who own or manage properties on the list told council they are pursuing repairs or demolitions and were advised by staff how the city's D&D (dilapidated and dangerous) process works.

Staff also presented and council approved two debt-related items after public presentation and brief discussion. The council approved a resolution authorizing the Lawton Metropolitan Area Airport Authority to reissue a revenue note in an amount not to exceed $9,350,000 and to sell the note to Arvest Bank. The council separately approved parameters for issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025, in the principal amount of $3,150,000 and set the sale timetable so bids can be received and awarded next month.

The council also approved a limited-support agreement of $10,000 to the Health Advocacy Center of Southwest Oklahoma to support identification and operation of a safe, trauma-informed space where sexual-assault victims can receive coordinated multi-agency care.

On capital work, the council considered change order No. 1 for the McMahon Memorial Auditorium renovation, a request that would add $725,428.92 to the contract (raising the contract from $7,333,138.45 to $8,059,595.65) and add 70 calendar days. Council members pressed staff and the contractor for supporting documentation. After discussion the council moved to delay final action and return the item to the next regular council meeting to allow members to review the change-order backup; the motion to defer carried unanimously.

Council also considered a request to accept project closeout and retainage release for City Hall renovation work (a $365,156.68 retainage). Council voted to table that acceptance indefinitely pending completion of outstanding contract requirements and paperwork from the contractor.

In executive-session business the council approved a settlement resolving seven pending Comanche County actions titled City of Lawton v. Great Plains Improvement Foundation and related parties; the city will pay a total of $174,401.98 and obtain releases as described in the settlement documents.

Other procedural measures included passage of a City Code ordinance aligning permit expiration dates for tattoo and body-piercing artists and parlors, the annual parameters for GO bond sale, and routine agenda motions. Where residents addressed individual dilapidated properties, council members emphasized the D&D process is designed to help owners bring properties back into compliance through permits and monitored progress.

Votes at a glance - Resolution: 558 Northeast Carver Street — declared dilapidated; abatement authorized; approved. - Items 2–6 (extensions/continued remodeling authorization): 1812 Southwest D Avenue; 1511 Southwest Texas Avenue; 1512 Southwest Doctor Charles W. Whitlow Avenue; 1701 Southwest F Avenue — staff recommended continuing permits/extension; council approved each request. - Omnibus dilapidated-property resolution (multiple addresses presented on the agenda for D&D action) — council considered each property and approved resolutions declaring the structures dilapidated and authorizing abatement as set forth in the resolutions. - Waiver & reaffirmation (2211 Northwest Baltimore Avenue) — council waived the six‑month reconsideration policy and reaffirmed the prior dilapidated-structure resolution to restart the compliance timetable; approved. - Airport Authority revenue note (not to exceed $9,350,000; sale to Arvest Bank) — approved. - General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025 (parameters; $3,150,000) — council set the sale timetable and parameters; approved. - McMahon Memorial Auditorium change order No. 1 ($725,428.92 increase; add 70 days) — action deferred to the next council meeting for additional backup documentation. - City Hall project: release of retainage ($365,156.68) — tabling accepted until contractor completes outstanding items and submits final paperwork. - Health Advocacy Center limited support agreement ($10,000) — approved to support a trauma-informed SANE/victim space. - Ordinance: Tattoo/body-piercing permit expiration alignment (effective 07/01/2025) — approved. - Settlement: City of Lawton v. Great Plains Improvement Foundation (seven Comanche County cases) — settlement approved for $174,401.98 and release of future claims related to the listed properties.

Why it matters The omnibus D&D actions create a unified, enforceable path for dozens of properties the city has identified as unsafe, combining code enforcement with opportunities for owners to obtain permits and complete repairs. The debt authorizations provide financing options for the airport authority and maintain the city's annual bond program. The McMahon auditorium change order and the City Hall retainage matter to local capital budgets and local construction timelines. The settlement closes long-running litigation involving properties formerly mortgaged to the city.

What happens next Staff will return the McMahon change-order backup at the next regular council meeting, per the council's direction. City finance staff will proceed with the public-notice and bidding timeline for the GO bond sale, and the airport authority and city will complete required closing steps for the revenue note sale.