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Muskogee council approves demolition order, taxi-for-hire insurance changes and several board appointments
Summary
The Muskogee City Council on May 18 upheld demolition findings for 926 Court Street, adopted an ordinance expanding taxi/for-hire insurance requirements, continued a solid-waste improvements fund, approved foundation board appointments and authorized a vehicle purchase; several measures passed by roll call.
The Muskogee City Council on May 18 took a series of routine and nonroutine actions, including upholding a demolition finding for a dilapidated house, adopting a second-reading ordinance to regulate vehicle-for-hire insurance and approving multiple appointments recommended by the City of Muskogee Foundation.
City staff recommended council uphold the Uniform Building Code of Appeals Board finding that the structure at 926 Court Street is dilapidated and should be demolished; council voted to uphold that finding after the public hearing. "Our recommendation, as staff, is that you please uphold the findings of UPCAB and approve the demolition," Miss Winger told the council during the hearing.
On the policy side, council adopted ordinance 4305a on second reading, which adds the term "vehicle for hire" to the city code to encompass app-based services and specifies required insurance coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. "The amendments to our ordinance add the language ‘vehicle for hire’ that's going to encompass operators like Uber or Lyft, and then require insurance coverage of uninsured motorists," Miss Spencer said while presenting the measure. The ordinance passed on roll-call vote.
Council also approved Resolution 3090 to continue the Solid Waste Improvements account. "This account brings in just about $360,000 a year," Mr. Stewart said, describing that the fund pays for sanitation maintenance, trucks, poly carts and two-yard containers; staff asked that the fund be continued in perpetuity and the motion passed.
Appointments recommended by the City of Muskogee Foundation were approved, including the appointment of Jamie Coburn Spear and James Gulley to six-year terms beginning Aug. 1, 2026, and Kimberly Williams as board chair for a one-year term beginning Aug. 1, 2026. Council also approved several committee and board appointments including the mayor's airport-board seat and the nomination of Council member Derek Reed as deputy mayor.
A budgeted purchase of a 2026 Ford F-350 specialty utility truck for the facilities maintenance department, using state contract pricing at $73,056, was approved; a council member asked staff to involve local dealers in future bidding to keep spending in Muskogee.
Several workers' compensation claims were discussed in executive session and returned to open session for votes; council approved the claims as presented in executive session. The council adjourned following final roll call.
Votes at a glance: ordinance 4305a — adopted; Resolution 3090 — approved; demolition at 926 Court Street — upheld; Foundation appointments — approved; vehicle purchase (F-350) — approved; workers' compensation claims discussed in executive session — approved. The council did not take additional direction at the meeting on any of the items listed beyond these formal approvals and referrals.
