CITYMANAGER’S MONTHLYREPORT MARCH2025
DearCitizens, Mayor,and CityCouncilof Muskogee,
Incorporated with this letter is the inaugural City Manager’s monthly report to our community. This report is intended to provide information about the operations of the major departments of the city in a clear and concise format that is useful, relevant, andtimely.
Given that this is the inaugural report, users can expect that different data points will be added, while others drop off, as the information needs of the community change over the coming months and years. I hope everyone finds information here that answers questions that they have always wanted to ask about their city, but didn’t knowwhotoask.
ThisinauguralreportcoversthemonthofMarch2025andincludessomespecificyear to date information as well. It is important to note that the financial information is unauditedandassuchitissubjecttoadjustmentsasnecessary.
AsweenterSpring,pleaseremainweatherawareandbepreparedtotake precautions whenever Mother Nature throws a curveball our way Speaking of curveballs, with Spring comes children playing in the parks and in the streets. Please keep in mind that they are paying more attention to fun than safety and may unexpectedly dart out into the path of traffic and drivers need to be more alert when childrenareplayingnearby.
As many of you know, I will be leaving Muskogee for my next adventure at the end of April.IthasbeenmysincerestpleasuretoservethiscommunityandIwishyouallgood fortuneintothefuture.
Roger Kolman
MuskogeePoliceDepartment
ChiefJohnnyTeehee
The Muskogee Police Department is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community through proactive law enforcement, crime prevention,andemergencyresponseservices.Thedepartmentiscommitted toupholdingtheruleoflaw,maintainingpublicorder,andprotectingresidents and visitors through a variety of specialized units, including patrol, investigations, K-9, and community policing programs. The Muskogee Police Department works collaboratively with local organizations, city departments, andthepublictobuildtrust,enhancecommunityengagement,andimprove overallqualityoflifeinMuskogee.
The Muskogee High School tennis team donated tennis balls for the police department’s K-9 officers. The repurposed balls will be usedtotrainK-9's.OfficerBen MooreandK-9Jack,pictured here,acceptedthedonation.
MuskogeeFireDepartment
ChiefJodyMoore
The Muskogee Fire Department (MFD) provides 24-hour emergency response services, including fire suppression, vehicle collision response, explosion management, and medical emergencies. Operating from multiple strategically locatedfirestations,MFDensuresrapidresponsetimesacrossthecity.Firefighters are highly trained in firefighting, rescue operations, hazardous materials management,emergencymedicalservices,andpublicfireeducation.Inaddition to emergency response, MFD conducts fire prevention programs, safety inspections, and public education initiatives, emphasizing preparedness, professionalism, and rapid response to ensure the well-being of Muskogee residents.
Planning&CodeEnforcement
SarahWinkle,InterimDirector
The Planning Department consists of three divisions: planning, code enforcement, and inspections. Code enforcement officers play a vital role in maintainingcityordinancesrelatedtoneighborhoodservices,whichinclude issuessuchasmowing,parking,trash,debris,andabandonedproperties.The missionofCodeEnforcementistoensureMuskogeeremainsbeautiful.Thisis achieved through their active presence in the neighborhoods and by addressingtheconcernsraisedbythecitizens.
PublicWorks/Stormwater
MichaelStewart,Director
The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining and improving Muskogee’s infrastructure, streets, water systems, stormwater programs and other essential services, including sanitation and yard waste, environmental control, pollution control, and the water treatment plant.
The Stormwater Division hosted both the 2025 Azalea Cleanup and the first Free Dump Days of the year in March. More than 3,500 people volunteered for the Azalea Cleanup, which is an opportunity for the Muskogee communitytocometogetherand keep the City of Muskogee beautiful.
“We accepted 2,400 loads of limbs, brush, and waste during the Free Dump Days event,” said Michael Stewart, Public Works Director. “The landfill was under construction this year, so we experienced an influx of traffic at the material yard, but it was a successful event and a great benefittoourcitizens.”
MichaelStewart,Director
The Sanitation (Solid Waste) Division services approximately 13,000 residents and several hundred businesses in the City of Muskogee. The department operates four residential routes, one dedicated dead-end and handicap service route, and two commercial routes to ensure efficient waste collection across the city. The division utilizes five automated side-load trucks, which minimize direct contact between employees and refuse. Additionally, several semi-automated rear-load trucks are used for collection, allowing for manual assistance when necessary.
1,766
15,045
Crew members installed a force main sewer line along Main Street. This line will tie the Creek Nation’s property on Main Street and Harris Road into the City’s sewer system. A force main sewer line is a sewer line that is under pressure. This format is used when a flow cannot be achievedwithgravityalone.
PublicWorks/Streets
MichaelStewart,Director
Crews continue to widen and install culverts on North Country Club This picture shows a roller, which is used for subbase compaction to ensure that the road is built on a solidbase.
This image shows crews paving Kendall Boulevard after it was milled The City is improving both Historical Districts Founder’sPlacewillreceiveamillandoverlayinthecoming weeks
4,667SQUAREYARDSMILLED,
Parks&Recreation
MarkWilkerson,Director
The mission of the Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department is to enhance the quality of life by providing the best possible recreational facilities,opennaturalspaces,trailsandprogramsforMuskogeecitizens.
The Parks and Recreation Department manages 16 playgrounds, 6 pickleball courts, 2 skateparks, seven splash pads, more than 15 miles of pavedtrails,15coveredpavilions,8tenniscourts,735acresofparkland,5 communitygardens,and6basketballcourts.
MarchAccomplishments:
Morethan100RougherAlternative Academystudents,staff,and teachersgatheredatHonor HeightsParktohelpcleanuptrash anddebrisduringtheAzalea Cleanup.
ShelbyBanks,Manager
The Communications Office handles all internal and external communications for the City of Muskogee. The Communications Manager serves as the primary contact for local media outlets, overseespressreleases,managestheCityofMuskogee'ssocialmedia accounts, issues official statements on behalf of the City, and writes newslettersforemployeesandresidents.
radioshowhighlightingimportant Cityinformationandcurrent eventshappeninginour community.
HumanResources
MaggieEaton,Director
The Human Resources Department plays a crucial role in supporting the City’s workforce. HR is in charge of managing and coordinating employee benefits, ensuring that employees have access to health insurance, retirement plans, and other vital programs. They maintain the confidentiality of personnel files, publish job announcements, recruit new talent, and hire staff. Additionally, HR oversees payroll processing to guaranteethatemployeesreceivetheirpayaccuratelyandontime.
InMarch,
TheHumanResources Departmenthired...
Sixfull-timeemployees
Threepart-timeemployees
CONGRATULATIONS toMuskogeepolice officerKevin Gilbrethonhis retirementfrom MPD.Kevinserved hiscommunityfor 21yearsand8 months.
The recent successes at the Muskogee Civic Center can be traced to Justin O’Neal, the Director of Exposition. Both the MuskogeeCivicCenterand Hatbox have thrived under hisdirection.
EmergencyManagement
TylerEvans,Director
The Emergency Management Department plays a crucial role in coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts. This includes storm spotting, tornado alerts, mass notifications, and collaboration with various agencies and jurisdictions during emergencies. The Emergency Management team partners with the County, State, FEMA, insurance companies, and other organizations to effectivelymanageemergenciesanddisasters.
InMarch,
theEmergencyManagementDepartment...
AttendedtheOklahomaEmergencyManagementStateConferencein Durant
Inspectedandreportedstormdamage. MonitoredsevereweatherintheEmergencyOperationsCenter.
The Emergency Management Department hosted the annual SkyWarn Storm Spotter training at the Muskogee Civic Center. More than 40 people participated in the classwhichincludedmembersofthe public,arealawenforcementofficers and first responders. They were taught how to spot storms and read radarsignatures.
The inaugural Salute to Service took place March 15. The event was created to celebrate the first responderswhoserveourcommunity Spectators were able to watch a practice air show for Tora, Tora, Tora, aWorldWarIIreenactmentexhibition, while exploring fire trucks, police cruisers,andambulances.
AnimalControl
The Animal Shelter responds to calls concerning animal complaints or investigations within the city limits. Furthermore, the Animal Control Division manages the Spay & Neuter Assistance Program, offering eligible residents access to low-cost or complimentary sterilization servicesfortheirdogsandcats.
The Finance Department plays a crucial role in managing and documenting the City'sfinancialactivities.ItalsoincludesthePurchasingDepartment,whichoversees the acquisition of goods and services. In March, the Finance Department began developing revenue and expense projections to facilitate the budget process for the nextfiscalyear. DennisRead,Director
DennisRead,Director
RobertSweptson,Director
The City of Muskogee’s Fleet Management Department operates a centralized maintenance program for city vehicles and equipment. The City owns more than 400 vehicles,250piecesofequipmentand450smallengineassets.TheFleetManagement Departmentprovidesregularpreventivemaintenancesaswellasunscheduledrepairs through internal maintenance operations and contracted services with commercial vendors Other responsibilities include collision repairs, assisting other departments with skilled services, fleet management services, GPS management and asset management. The Fleet Department does most repairs in-house with very little outsourcing, utilizing a fully-stocked parts room for timely repairs. In addition, Fleet Management is responsible for providing fuel, oil and grease for all on-road and offroadcityequipment.
CONGRATULATIONSto mechanicTylorClarkfor completinghisrequired trainingandobtaininghis CDLlicense.
Construction continues on the new central fuel station near the MuskogeeFairgrounds.Thetanks are in the ground and the columns for the canopy are in place.
WaterTreatment
GallonsofWaterTreated inMarch GallonsofWaterTreated inFY2025
527,372,000GALLONS DailyAverage
17,012,000GALLONS
15,308,000GALLONS
4,194,392,000GALLONS DailyAverage
The City of Muskogee maintains the raw water line that carries water from the Fort Gibson Dam to the Muskogee Water Treatment Plant. Crews have run three separate devices through the raw water line in an effort to removesedimentandorganic materials that come from the laketoourplant.Theimageto the left shows the cleaning deviceusedfortheproject.
EconomicDevelopment
TeraShows,Manager
The Economic Development for Housing and Retail Office focuses on attracting and maintaining housing, dining, and retail opportunities withintheCityofMuskogee.
RetailContacts
17
21 RestaurantContacts
The City of Muskogee participated in the 2025 Economic Development Day held at the State Capitol, an event that brought together city representatives, legislators, and various stakeholders from across the state. This annual gathering serves as a crucial platform for cities and municipalities like Muskogee to showcase their unique opportunities for growth and development. During the event, representatives from Muskogee engaged in meaningful discussions with legislators, aiming to foster stronger relationships and advocate for the city's economic interests. Through these interactions, Muskogee is able to convey its vision for the future, seek support for initiatives that could further stimulate retail and housing vitality and bring about long-term benefits forthecommunity.
