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Stilwell Council approves $578,071 turf payment, authorizes EDA grant change and confirms new fire chief
Summary
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Stilwell City Council approved major expenditures including $578,071.25 for golf-course turf and a $225,515.31 street pay application, authorized the mayor to seek a change in use for a $2.5 million EDA grant, and appointed Charley Coombes as fire chief; multiple personnel hires were also confirmed.
The Stilwell City Council on Oct. 6 approved a series of payments, personnel appointments and administrative actions, including a $578,071.25 payment for golf-course turf and authorization for Mayor Jean Ann Wright to request a change in use of a $2.5 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant.
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Jean Ann Wright opened the session and council members recorded their attendance. The council approved the consent agenda, which included $269,487.49 in claims from the General Fund and $48,007.52 from Special Projects Fund 91 for golf-course expenses, and accepted payroll for August 2025 totaling $286,841.04.
The council then addressed multiple agenda items. Members voted 5-0 to approve the $578,071.25 payment to NexGen Lawns for golf-course turf work from Special Projects Construction Account #91-12-645303. The council also unanimously approved pay application #2 to Cook Consulting for the Second Street rehabilitation and drainage project for $225,515.31 charged to Federal Grant Two - Second Street Construction Account #60-12-645303. A $62,628.00 payment to North America Fire Equipment Inc. for fire gear was approved contingent on Fire Chief appointee Charley Coombes accounting for the equipment on the invoices.
Councilors also approved a purchase of a four- or six-seat electric golf cart for city events not to exceed $15,000 from the Administration budget, and they authorized the mayor to request a change in the use of EDA Investment No. 08-79-05604, valued at $2,500,000. Several administrative discussions were held without action, including the city bid process for materials and labor and clarification of residency and filing requirements requested by the Adair County Election Board. The council approved an agreement with Adair County for the city to perform clerical functions related to county fire and construction permitting.
The council entered executive session at 6:45 p.m. under Title 25 O.S. 307(B)(1)(2)(3)(4) to discuss personnel items and returned at 7:48 p.m. The mayor stated publicly that items 12–19 were the only matters discussed and that no other action occurred in executive session. Following that session, the council approved a slate of personnel actions: hiring Hunter Scott as a CLEET-certified police officer at $18.92 per hour; hiring Erik Baeza as a non-CLEET police officer at $17.00 per hour; appointing Charley Coombes as fire chief with an annual salary of $50,000 effective Oct. 1, 2025, with an increase to $55,000 upon completion of Fire Fighter 2 training; and several fire-department staffing changes including the hiring of volunteer firefighter Tyler Rinehart and promotions/hirings for Captain (Kaleb Vann) and Lieutenant (JJ Coombes). All personnel motions recorded carried 5-0.
The council also voted 3-2 (with two abstentions) to reject a request from Sam and Lisa Hendrickson to place a mobile home at the southeast corner of 5th and Olive. The minutes show the abstentions and yes votes as recorded by the clerk.
The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. Minutes were attested by Acting City Clerk-Treasurer Amy Duncan and Mayor Jean Ann Wright. The transcript provided for this article does not include verbatim spoken quotations from council members beyond the recorded motions and vote tallies.
