Votes at a glance: McAlester council approves fiscal ordinance, airport fees and rail maintenance fee; multiple airport grants and contracts authorized

At its July 22 meeting the McAlester City Council approved several ordinances and resolutions covering the city budget, airport operations and projects, and railroad industrial‑track maintenance. Council votes were recorded by roll call; the items below list each formal action and the council’s stated outcome.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved (motion carried by roll call). Items on the consent agenda were adopted as routine.

- Ordinance No. 2812 (amend 2024–25 budget; emergency clause): Council approved the ordinance amending the fiscal year 2024–25 budget (including supplemental exhibits A‑6, A‑7, A‑8) to add additional revenues, adjust transfers, and reflect forfeitures and other receipts. The council also approved the ordinance’s emergency clause. (Roll call: motion carried.)

- Airport after‑hours service fee ordinance: Council approved an ordinance adding after‑hours support/refueling service fees to the McAlester City Code (chapter 14 §14‑30) and adding corresponding fees to chapter 48. Staff said the fee aligns local practice with what comparable non‑24/7 airports charge so the city can recover overtime/comp time costs when technicians respond after hours. (Motion carried by roll call.)

- Railroad operations / industrial track management ordinance: Council adopted a code chapter to establish inspection and maintenance fees for industrial track in the Stephen Taylor Industrial Park and to set a scheduled maintenance plan (replacement of roughly one‑third of ties over a 10‑year cycle as recommended by the railroad). Staff said the city has spent approximately $84,000 on track maintenance since April and sought a structure to recover costs and require primary users to pay a portion of inspections/repairs. (Motion carried by roll call; ordinance effective date stated in meeting materials.)

- Airport grants resolution (taxiway and lighting rehabilitation): Council adopted a resolution authorizing application for and acceptance of grant offers from the U.S. Department of Transportation (BIL/AIP) and the Oklahoma Department of Aeronautics/Aerospace for the taxiway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation project at McAlester Regional Airport. Staff reported a total project estimate of $2,112,485.10 with federal and state funds covering most costs and a city match of $79,810.10 (~3.8% of project cost). (Motion carried by roll call.)

- Task order agreement No. 5 with H.W. Lochner, Inc.: Council authorized the mayor to sign a task order with H.W. Lochner, Inc. for construction inspection services (not to exceed $361,000) for the taxiway pavement rehabilitation project. H.W. Lochner is the airport’s engineer of record and will provide on‑site inspectors and laboratory testing during construction. (Motion carried.)

- Notice of award / construction contract contingent on grants: Council authorized the mayor to sign a notice of award and contract, contingent on receipt of grant funds, for the low bidder (Screedech LLC) for the taxiway pavement and lighting rehabilitation project. The base bid was reported at $1,278,537.50; including alternates the total bid amount presented to council was $1,547,985. (Motion carried.)

- Other minutes/authority confirmations: Council convened as the McAlester Airport Authority, McAlester Public Works Authority, McAlester Retirement Trust Authority, and McAlester Economic Development Authority to approve minutes and confirm actions taken on the city council agenda.

What council said about finances and operations

During consideration of the budget ordinance, staff presented a June financial update showing the general fund at about 91% of budgeted revenues to date and expenditures at about 98%. Staff also reviewed sales tax trends, use tax characteristics, water and utility receipts (noting AMI meter installations increased accuracy), and TIF payoff progress.

On airport items, staff and council thanked outgoing airport staff and emphasized the projects’ importance to economic development; the council discussed funding splits among BIL, AIP, and state aeronautics grants and confirmed the modest city match.

Why it matters: The airport contracts and grants pave the way for a multi‑million‑dollar rehabilitation of taxiway pavement and lighting intended to improve safety and airfield infrastructure and to leverage federal and state funds while the railroad operations ordinance creates a mechanism to recover rail maintenance costs from industrial users, reducing the city’s unrecovered maintenance spending.