Atoka aldermen approve budget amendment, earlier meeting time, $6.05 million pump-station contract and other measures

Atoka’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted on multiple administrative and capital items during its Feb. 18 meeting, approving a first-reading budget amendment, changing the regular meeting start time to 6:30 p.m., awarding a $6,047,720 construction contract to Chris Hill Construction, and approving a settlement in Pelletier v. Atoka.

The board approved the consent agenda, then voted 4-0 on individual items brought forward. The board also promoted Deputy Town Recorder Rachel Corcorubias to town recorder effective upon the retirement of Debbie Pickard; Pickard’s last day is March 14. The board adopted resolutions to update authorized check signers and to issue an employee credit card to the incoming recorder (the card limit was discussed as $4,000 and described as restored to that level).

Why it matters: the contract award covers a multi-million-dollar upgrade to two wastewater pump/lift stations paid in part with ARPA funds that must be spent by September 2026; the meeting-time change responds to resident feedback about accessibility; and the personnel and administrative changes update town operations ahead of the recorder’s retirement.

Most important actions

- Promotion of town recorder: The board moved to promote Deputy Town Recorder Rachel Corcorubias to town recorder upon Debbie Pickard’s retirement. Motion by Alderman Harbor; second by Alderman…