Water Utilities Trust honors Deputy Municipal Counselor Craig Keith on his retirement

The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust on Dec. 2 adopted a resolution of appreciation recognizing Craig Keith, deputy municipal counselor, who will retire on Jan. 2, 2026, after more than 43 years of city service.

The Clerk read Whereas clauses describing Keith’s career milestones, noting he began his city service on May 19, 1982, helped draft policy allowing multiyear trust contracts, led the 2013 updates that authorized electronic bidding and signatures, and helped negotiate long-term wholesale water and wastewater agreements that increased wholesale sales from less than 1% to more than 11% of total sales.

Multiple trustees praised Keith at the meeting. One trustee said Keith had “steered the ship for some of the most complex litigation” the city faced and added, “because of him, my kids, my great my my grandkids, and my great grandkids will have adequate water.” Another trustee called Keith “an absolute joy to work with” and said he had been a reliable adviser to newer members.

Keith addressed the trust in his remarks and thanked colleagues and staff, saying he felt “very fortunate to have worked throughout my career with such talented and dedicated trustees, general managers, clients and coworkers” and that he would “leave you in the capable hands of my co-counsels.”

Chair action to adopt the resolution carried; the transcript records the chair announcing, “And it passed.” The resolution and comments on Dec. 2 provide an official acknowledgement of Keith’s legal and procurement work for the city and the trust.

Next steps and procedural notes: the transcript does not record a roll-call vote, mover or seconder for the resolution. The resolution text in the record lists Keith’s retirement date and the career highlights summarized above.