Atoka council approves road overlays, code-drafting contract, park grant application and trustee appointments

The Atoka City Council on Feb. 2 approved a package of routine and project-specific actions, including two street overlay contracts, a code-drafting services contract, a park grant application resolution and multiple appointments and consultant invoices.

Council voted to accept a Miller Asphalt quote for an overlay on Indiana Street (6th–10th) for $108,002.88 and a second Miller Asphalt quote for an overlay on Montana Street (4th–13th) for $187,500. Staff said both streets had been identified among the city’s most deteriorated and that crews would try to do work overnight where feasible to reduce traffic impacts. “That is an area that we’ve identified for quite some time,” staff said during the Indiana Street presentation.

In other actions, the council adopted resolution 2026-O8 to authorize applying for Choctaw development funds for phase 2 of the “dream space” project, which staff described as stage-area improvements, irrigation and sound upgrades. The council also passed resolution 2026-O9 to amend section 2-102 of the Atoka City code to reflect the council’s current meeting time of 9:00 a.m., resolving a discrepancy with the printed code book.

The council approved a final plat for the Bronze Addition in Topeka County, presented by Eric Enyart of Tanner Consulting, who said the plat dedicates utility easements for rerouted water and sewer and was prepared in accordance with state statutes and subdivision regulations. “We are the engineer and the surveyor for this particular project,” Enyart said.

On legal and administrative services, the council authorized a contract with Doug Gabbard to perform a section-by-section review and drafting of the city code. Staff described Gabbard as a retired city attorney and former district judge who will bill by the hour at $300. Council members emphasized that drafted sections will return to the council for review and that the contract can be paused if costs exceed expectations. “He thinks he’s gonna get through two sections a month,” a staff member said of the proposed schedule.

Council ratified trustee appointments to the Atoka Municipal Golf Authority, approving two trustees to two-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and two others to terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026; staff said the appointments followed the authority’s recommendation and that a typographical error in the trust indenture will be corrected at a future meeting.

The council also approved three Lochner invoices for airport planning and environmental assessments (1996-TO02-02 for $15,100; 1996-TO02-03 for $20,200; and 1996-TO02-04 for $9,200). Staff said the work spans multiple timeframes and will be reimbursed at 95%, leaving the city responsible for 5%.

Event approvals included a permit for the Out of the Darkness community walk, scheduled for Sept. 19, 2026, at the sports complex; organizer Coraline McCallis, the walk chair, said the event has grown and will use an evening format with registration from 6 to 8 p.m. and the walk beginning at 8 p.m. Council members thanked McCallis and approved the request.

Council approved June 27, 2026, as the date for the annual fireworks display after discussing vendor availability and cost increases (staff reported a roughly 12% price rise to about $8,400). Members debated conflicts with church events and rain-date logistics; the motion to set June 27 carried with one recorded no vote.

Votes at a glance - Approve January purchase orders: approved (roll-call recorded as affirmative by the members present). - Indiana Street overlay — Miller Asphalt, $108,002.88: approved (roll-call). - Choctaw development funds application — Resolution 2026-O8: approved (roll-call). - Code meeting-time amendment — Resolution 2026-O9: approved (roll-call). - Bronze Addition final plat: approved (roll-call). - Contract with Doug Gabbard for code drafting ($300/hour): approved (roll-call). - Appointments to Atoka Municipal Golf Authority (four trustees): approved (roll-call). - Lochner invoices ($15,100; $20,200; $9,200): each approved (roll-call); 95% reimbursable per staff. - Montana Street overlay — Miller Asphalt, $187,500: approved (roll-call). - Out of the Darkness walk (09/19/2026): approved (roll-call). - Fireworks display date (06/27/2026): approved (roll-call); 1 no vote recorded.

Why it matters Several approved items are routine financial and planning steps that enable construction and grant applications (street overlays, airport planning, and park improvements). The code-drafting contract aims to resolve inconsistencies across ordinances and citation schedules that staff said are creating enforcement challenges. The firefighter/display date and the community walk set public-event timelines that shape summer and fall programming.

What’s next Staff will return drafted code sections to the council for review, submit the Choctaw grant application as authorized, and schedule work with Miller Asphalt. The council also said it will correct a typographical error in the golf-authority trust indenture at a later meeting. The city manager and department staff will pursue reimbursement for the Lochner invoices and coordinate logistics for the approved public events.

(Quotes in this story are taken verbatim from the meeting transcript. Names and roles are reported as stated in the record.)