Muskogee council directs staff to clear tornado debris, keeps limb site open through May 11

The Muskogee City Council on April 22 directed staff to clear tree and limb debris from right‑of‑way areas damaged in an overnight storm and to keep the city's limb/dump site open through May 11, following testimony from residents about damage in the Grandview 7 neighborhood.

Mayor Ryan Lowe read a statement describing widespread damage and said the National Weather Service had confirmed the event was an EF1 tornado with winds exceeding 100 mph. "Doing nothing, failing to act in a moment of clear need is simply unacceptable," he said, urging council to consider a standing emergency fund to respond to future events.

The council heard two public commenters from Grandview 7. Resident Cindy Dennis described broken windows, lost shingles and debris around her home and urged the council to "try and help when you can" to support neighbors. Jennifer Hollingshed said local contractors volunteered to haul debris free of charge the morning after the storm — naming several businesses — and asked the city to pick up remaining brush and limbs and to waive landfill fees for storm‑related loads.

City Manager Kendall Francis told council the resolution before them (Resolution No. 3087) was a declaration tied to this incident and that a separate policy would be required to streamline responses for future storms. He said the city had opened its brush/limb site and could begin curbside pickup immediately but noted that some debris — such as fence material — must be taken to a commercial landfill operated by Waste Management and would require an account or payment mechanism. Staff said they would pursue arrangements so volunteer contractors or the city would not be charged for storm‑related loads; councilors reported they had spoken with state contacts and heard that the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality had indicated hazardous‑material fees could be waived in certain cases.

Council discussion focused on scope and fairness: members said any city pickup would be limited to right‑of‑way debris and that parameters should be set so the city could help affected neighborhoods without expanding indefinitely. Residents and councilors urged a two‑week window to allow working families time to haul debris; staff recommended starting pickup immediately and revisiting the need at the end of the two‑week period.

A council member moved to direct staff to collect tree and limb debris from rights of way in tornado‑affected areas and to keep the city's limb/dump site open for the defined two‑week period; the motion set a pickup start immediately and an end date of May 11, 2026. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting yes.

The council did not take action this evening to create a permanent emergency fund; several members said staff would review an emergency plan model they had obtained from the city of Moore, Oklahoma and return with recommendations on a funding mechanism and written policy.

The meeting adjourned after the vote.