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Atoka City Council adopts new records fee schedule, switches fire cost‑recovery vendor and extends broadband franchise
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Summary
Atoka City Council presented a valor award and approved an updated Open Records Act fee schedule, authorized termination of its agreement with Fire Recovery USA LLC and contracted with Emergency Solutions Inc., extended a one‑year broadband franchise with Vibe Broadband (one abstention), approved an ordinance conveying rural property to the industrial authority and authorized a quiet‑title suit to clear property title.
Atoka City Council recognized a local officer for valor and approved a bundle of administrative actions at its morning meeting, adopting a revised Open Records Act fee schedule, authorizing a vendor change for fire department cost‑recovery services, extending a broadband franchise for one year and approving several property‑related measures.
The council presented an Award of Valor to Master Patrol Officer Christian Shomo, citing a nomination by Lieutenant Jimmy Taylor that recounted a November 19, 2025, high‑risk vehicle pursuit in which officers say the suspect fired at Shomo’s marked patrol unit. The nomination states the vehicle later crashed and officers took the armed suspect into custody.
Why it matters: The fee schedule and contract changes affect how city staff handle public records requests and how the fire department recovers costs for emergency services — both of which have budgetary implications for Atoka and shape resident access to government records.
Council members voted to adopt an updated Open Records Act fee schedule after staff described the changes as aligning with recent Open Meetings Law guidance. Staff noted the city’s earlier references to a 25¢‑per‑page charge and a $15 search fee had gone many years without update. The schedule discussed in the meeting exempts requests from media organizations and criminal defendants and allows the city to charge for requests deemed unreasonably disruptive.
On fire department billing, the council approved terminating the city’s agreement with Fire Recovery USA LLC and entering an agreement with Emergency Solutions Inc. Miss Bates, speaking for the fire department, said the change would consolidate three existing systems into a single platform, streamline staff workflow and ‘‘increase the revenue recovery by approximately 8% on every dollar that’s collected.’’ Council members asked whether the change carried upfront costs; staff responded the arrangement is a percentage model and can be terminated with the contract’s 30‑day notice provision.
The council also approved a one‑year extension of a franchise license with Vibe Broadband. Staff described the extension as an interim measure while the city considers placing a long‑term franchise question on a future ballot; the motion passed with one member recorded as abstaining.
Other actions approved included Ordinance 6‑18, conveying certain rural property to the Atoka City Industrial Development Authority to correct an earlier conveyance that lacked a formal ordinance, and authorization for the city attorney to file a quiet‑title action to clear title on a parcel in Block 15 that carries abatement liens. Staff said clearing title would allow the city to surplus the property and return it to the tax rolls.
Votes at a glance: - Open Records Act fee schedule — approved (unanimous vote). - Resolution 2026‑12 (McGee Creek trust items) — approved (unanimous vote). - Termination of Fire Recovery USA LLC agreement — approved (unanimous vote). - Agreement with Emergency Solutions Inc. for cost‑recovery services — approved (unanimous vote). - Vibe Broadband one‑year franchise extension — approved (yes: 4; abstain: 1 [Mister McDaniel]). - Ordinance 6‑18 (property conveyance) — approved (unanimous vote). - Authorization to file quiet‑title suit for Block 15 property — approved (unanimous vote).
What council members said: Miss Bates, the fire department representative, told the council the new vendor would ‘‘streamline the operations and reduce administrative time’’ and predicted roughly an 8% lift in recovered revenues per collected dollar. Staff summarized the records‑fee changes as following guidance from the OML and emphasized statutory exemptions for media requests and criminal defendants.
The meeting concluded after routine council comments and roll call; several related public authorities (the municipal authority, industrial development authority, industrial facilities authority and airport authority) met afterward and handled routine consent‑agenda items before adjourning.
The council did not set a date for further public hearings on the franchise or records fee schedule; the council’s next procedural step on those matters will depend on any follow‑up staff reports or ballot scheduling for a longer franchise agreement.
