TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Tahlequah City Council on Monday morning approved a small utility easement in Cherokee County and promoted a longtime department member to lead the city’s fire operations.

Council voted unanimously to grant a utility easement on the east line of Lot 1, B And W Country Estate South, Cherokee County, to allow routing of a sewer line. A city staff member described the request as a limited encroachment to avoid a diagonal run; staff said there are existing 20-foot easements on the north and south of the lots and that the new request is for a roughly 28-by-28 square-foot area to carry the line east and then north. "So the sewer line is run on that 20 foot existing easement on the south...they need a 28 by 28, square foot square, to run the utility," the staff member said. A motion to approve was made and seconded; Councilors voted yes and the motion carried.

The council also approved the promotion of Mark Whitmore to fire chief, effective Feb. 1, 2026. An introducer noted Whitmore has spent 26 years with the department and argued that promoting from within supports continuity. "He's been with the department going 26 years of dedicated service to the city," the introducer said. Whitmore addressed the council and said, "You know, I got some big shoes to fill." The mayor and outgoing Fire Chief Casey were noted on the record during the consideration. Councilors voted unanimously to approve the promotion.

Mayor Suzanne Myers opened the meeting at 5:30 a.m. and the council gave brief service recognitions to Randy Powell (10 years, IT) and Cody Warren (15 years, Police Department). The council also handled routine consent business, including removing one consent item at a speaker's request before approving the remainder by unanimous consent.

No public comments were recorded during the public comment period. The meeting time was noted at 5:39 a.m. as the council concluded the listed items.

What’s next: The promotion takes effect Feb. 1, 2026. No further public hearings or actions on the approved easement were recorded during this session.