City manager reports mixed tax numbers, $9.7M Danforth-Kelly project and new fire chief

City Manager Enns reported June 23 that April tax receipts showed mixed results: sales tax alone declined 2.33% (April collections reported in May), while use tax rose and lodging tax increased about 6.1%, bringing lodging receipts close to $1.2 million year to date. Combined sales and use tax revenue was down roughly 0.81% compared with the prior year.

Enns then summarized several infrastructure initiatives. He described the Danforth and Kelly intersection project as a major work item recently put out to bid by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) on June 19. The $9.7 million project will add dual left-turn lanes, right-turn lanes, a raised median and new sidewalks; ODOT will manage construction. Enns said about $7.4 million is federal funding, the city share is approximately $2.3 million from CIP funds, and Edmond Electric has spent about $1.1 million relocating utilities. Construction is expected to begin this fall and continue into February of the following year.

Enns also announced a corridor study for the Second and Broadway stretch (US-77, from I‑35 to Comfort Drive). The first public meeting was scheduled for the evening after the council meeting, 6–8 p.m. at the Edmond History Museum; Enns said the study aims to guide land uses, improve safety and support multimodal transportation along the transition from highway to downtown.

Responding to council remarks, Enns introduced Terry Esri as Edmond’s incoming fire chief. Esri, who brings 28 years of experience from Stillwater, will start June 30 and assist as Fire Station 6 opens. The city said Station 6, the first new station since 2005, is located on North Kelly at Kelly Lakes Pass and is expected to cut response times in northwest Edmond by roughly 50%. The station’s $7.5 million construction was funded from city reserves.

Enns closed by thanking Deputy Chief Chad Weaver for his interim service and offered to take questions from the council.