Chickasha Council approves charter amendment for ballot, accepts police grants and OKs oil-and-gas leases

The Chickasha City Council on Tuesday moved several routine and policy items forward, voting to put a charter amendment on the April 7, 2026 ballot that would make the city's competitive-bidding threshold track the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act.

City staff told the council the city charter currently sets the competitive-bidding threshold at $3,500, while state law currently sets it at $100,000; a staff member said the proposed resolution would keep the city law consistent with whatever the state sets going forward. "Right now, our charter provides for competitive bidding at $3,500," the staff member said, adding that the proposal would keep the charter consistent with state law. On roll call the council approved placing the charter amendment on the ballot; Councilmember Burris cast the lone dissenting vote.

The council also approved an election proclamation to send the amendment to voters. City staff said the measure will appear on the April 7, 2026 municipal ballot if the proclamation and required filings are completed.

Police items were among the other actions the council approved. The council accepted the 2026 SAFE Oklahoma grant award to support violent-crime overtime and community-involvement overtime; Police Chief Musick told the council Chickasha has applied successfully for the SAFE grant since 2018. "I have been successful getting that money every single year," Chief Musick said, adding the department expects $18,400 this year to supplement overtime programs. The council also approved participation in an Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task-force memorandum of understanding, with Chief Musick emphasizing that "we have got to have an avenue where we can reach out to other agencies who know what they're doing" because the local detective unit is small.

The council approved development items including a property-use agreement with Willowbrook Inc., and the preliminary and final plat for Sagebrush Villas at North Grand Avenue and East Adesipio Avenue. Jessica Green, the city's community development director, told council members the developer plans for common areas and a future on-site play area, and the plat was approved after brief discussion and a roll call vote.

On land-use and zoning, the council held a public hearing and approved Ordinance 25-12 to rezone 520 South 17th Street from R-1 to C-1 for applicants Esteban and Colette. A councilmember raised a concern that a property owner within the 300-foot notice radius said they did not receive mailed notice; city staff replied notices are mailed on a certified list supplied by an abstracting company and that no return mail had been received.

The council authorized publication and public sale procedures for oil-and-gas leases under Title 64 (Sections 1081 and 1082) and approved an oil-and-gas lease with Hermitage Holdings LLC covering several small mineral tracts in the Chickasha Old Town additions. A councilmember recused themself from discussion on the oil-and-gas resolution before the roll call.

Ceremonial business included the administration of the police oath to Cameron Nicole Anderson and a promotion ceremony for Chickasha Fire Department members John Seiler and Justin Allen.

Votes at a glance: - Consent docket (with exceptions noted for 4(c), 4(d), 4(e); amendment to item g): Approved (motion moved by Charlie; seconded; roll call passed). - 2026 SAFE Oklahoma grant (police): Approved (roll call recorded affirmative votes). - Oklahoma ICAC MOU: Approved (roll call passed with one recorded No from Councilmember Burrows). - Property-use agreement with Willowbrook Inc.: Approved (motion carried on roll call; approval requested to be contingent on certificate of insurance naming city as loss payee/additional insured). - Sagebrush Villas preliminary & final plat: Approved (motion and roll call). - Ordinance 25-12, rezoning 520 S 17th Street: Approved (motion and roll call). - Resolution 2025-30R (election proclamation for city officer election): Approved (roll call). - Resolution 2025-32R (charter amendment to align bidding threshold with state law): Approved for placement on ballot (roll call; Councilmember Burris voted No). - Election proclamation to put charter amendment on April 7, 2026 ballot: Approved (roll call; Councilmember Burrows voted No). - Resolution 2025-33R (authorize publication/public sale for oil & gas leases): Approved (recusal noted; roll call passed). - Oil and gas lease with Hermitage Holdings LLC: Approved (roll call passed). - Master agreement with professional: Approved (roll call passed).

What council members said: Police Chief Musick: "We have got to have an avenue where we can reach out to other agencies who know what they're doing, who have all the state of the art information that we need." City staff (explaining charter amendment): "Right now, our charter provides for competitive bidding at $3,500," and the proposal would make the city consistent with state law.

Next steps: The charter amendment language will be submitted to the Grady County election board and, if the required filings and publication occur, will appear on the April 7, 2026 ballot for voters to decide. Other approved items will proceed to the administrative steps described in each agreement or resolution.