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Mayor Matthew Dukes reflects on decade in office, issues proclamations and announces April 20 gavel-passing
Summary
Mayor Dukes used his final regular council meeting to thank staff and colleagues, present proclamations honoring local businesses and announce a formal 'pass the gavel' ceremony on April 20 marking his last official day after ten years as mayor.
Mayor Matthew Dukes opened the Midwest City council meeting with a series of recognitions and a personal reflection on a decade of service, announcing an April 20 change-of-command ceremony and issuing proclamations honoring long-standing local businesses.
"It's been an honor to serve as your mayor for the last 10 years," Dukes said, thanking staff, council colleagues and the city workforce he described as about 500 employees. He announced a formal "pass the gavel" ceremony on April 20 at 11 a.m. as his final official act.
The meeting included presentations of 25-year municipal service awards by Mike Feena of the Oklahoma Municipal League to longtime city employees, and mayoral proclamations that designated a day in honor of the Underground Coffee (21 years in business) and Pelican's restaurant (46 years). Dukes highlighted those businesses' contributions to the community, calling them "cornerstones" of Midwest City.
The mayor also invited recognition of staff and council members by name and praised their work on city projects, saying the community has changed substantially in the past decade. The meeting proceeded with regular business after the ceremonial items.
Dukes and other council members said the April 20 ceremony will be a public, ceremonial handoff; administrative and policy work will continue under appointed staff and the new mayor thereafter.
