MONTHLY REPORT
MAY2025
Letterfrom the CityManager
HelloMuskogee,
ThisweekmarksmyfirstofficialmonthasCityManager,andwhatamonthit hasbeen!IfIhadtosumitupinoneword,itwouldbewhirlwind…butlet’sbe honest, “whirlwind” doesn’t quite capture the number of meetings, acronyms, andcupsofcoffeeithastakentogethere.
MyfamilyandIhaveofficiallyrelocated,andwearesettlinginnicely.Mywife andIhavebeengettingacclimatedtothecommunityandenjoyingeventslike AllAboardThursdayandStreetEatsonBroadway.Apparentlyiffoodisbeing served,Iwillbethere.Thecommunityhasbeenincrediblywelcoming,andwe aregratefulforthewarmreception.
Inbetweenunpackingboxesandtryingtorememberwhichdaythetrashgets picked up, I have been busy meeting with city staff, local leaders, and community partners. I have been diving into projects, getting familiar with ongoinginitiatives,anddoingmybesttokeepupwithoutasking,“Whatdoes thatacronymstandforagain?”
OnenotableitemthispastmonthwasworkingontheSchoolResourceOfficer (SRO) contract with Hilldale schools which is a great example of how collaborationandcommunitysafetygohandinhand.
Looking ahead, I am excited to continue building relationships, attending community events, and yes, actually getting a little work done in between all thehellosandhandshakes.Ifyouseemearoundtown,pleasesayhellooroffer a good restaurant recommendation. I am still on the hunt for the best local burger.
Hereistomanymoremonthsofprogress,partnership,andpublicservice. Seeyouaroundtown.
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.
Sergeant Andy Hudgens, Deputy Chief Chad Farmer, and Lt. Don Johnson worked peer support for family and coworkers of officers killed in the line of duty at the 2025 PoliceWeekinWashington,D.C.
MuskogeeFireDepartment
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.
AccidentResponsesinMay2025
TotalFiresforMay
Muskogee Fire Department had the privilege of celebrating the 99th birthdayofoneoftheirown, Mr. James H. Treadway, a dedicated firefighter who servedfrom1948to1954.
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
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.
Work continues on the Country Club Road Box Culvert. The team has experiencedafewraindelays,butworkhasstillprogressed. Theboxisnearly complete. Wallswillbeinstalledsoon,thenroadworkwillresume.
MichaelStewart,Director
SolidWaste&Recycling
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.
18,023
PublicWorks/Streets
MichaelStewart,Director
GallonsofWaterTreated inMay
13,390,000 DailyAverage
441,377,000 TotalProductioninMay
GallonsofWaterTreated
DailyAverage TotalProductioninFY2025
15,536,923
4,651,077,000
Newmetersinstalled inMay 33
1
Newmetersinstalled inFY2025 1285 WaterlinelocatesinMay
Catch all of the latest City of Muskogee information every Monday morning on the Muskogee Minute with City Manager Kendal Francis, live on OkieCountry101.7.
WasteWaterTreatment
Gallonsof WasteWater TreatedinMay
DailyAverage
TotalProduction
18,390,000 441,377,000
GallonsofWasteWater TreatedinFY2025
15,536,923
TotalProduction
DailyAverage 4,651,077,000
Workhasprogressedonthe SouthsideSewer ImprovementProject, locatedattheintersection ofEast53 andGulick Streets. rd
TeraShows,InterimManager
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.
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.
MayAccomplishments:
All7SplashPadlocationswere openedforthesummer
Splashpadswereservicedand readytoopen
LangstonPark–ournewestsplash padwascompleted.ThePark includesabasketballcourt, coveredpicnicpavilion,anda playground
OpeningforRiverCountryWater Park&SpauldingPool
Playgroundmaintenance completedatRobinsonPark, Hatbox,&ElliotPark
OpeningDayattheButterfly Papillion
Hatboxswingsetinstalled
All Aboard Thursday began in May and takes place on the third Thursday of each month from May to September. This event invites our local community to come together and enjoy live music, various vendors, and, of course, complimentary train rides The festivities are hosted at the Depot Green.
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.
InMay,
TheHumanResources Departmenthired...
Elevenfull-timeemployees
Onepart-timeemployee
Fortyfiveseasonal employees
EmployeePromotions
Congratulationstothe followingemployeewho receivedapromotioninMay:
EddieBlunk
WaterDistributionMaintenanceLeader1
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.
InMay,
theEmergencyManagementDepartment...
HelpedCoordinateResourcesfor“CastingBeyondSight”,aOklahomaSchool fortheBlindfishingeventheldatHonorHeightsPark. PresentedatLeadershipMuskogeeforPublicServiceDay. Monitoredstormsmultiplenightsthroughoutthemonth. Assistedaneighboringcommunitywithstormdamageclean-upand assessments.
MetwiththeOklahomaDepartmentof AerospaceandAeronautics. HostedtheSportsCarClubof AmericaandPortMuskogee.
SignedanLOAwithVanceAirForce, forthemtoutilizetheairportforUSAF training. CoordinatedwiththeUSAFonplansto replacethestaticdisplayairplaneby theroad.
MetwithOHPfortheCadetAcademy thatishostedattheairport.
The Finance Department plays a crucial role in managing and documenting the
the acquisition of goods and services. In March, the Finance Department began developing
and expense projections to facilitate the budget process for the nextfiscalyear.
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.
EconomicDevelopment
TeraShows,Manager
The Economic Development for Housing and Retail Office focuses on attracting and maintaining housing, dining, and retail opportunities withintheCityofMuskogee.
TheEconomicDevelopmentofficeis working on a housing infill palette, which is set of pre-designed, preapproved, permit-ready house plans that can be provided to developers as a way to facilitate newhousingconstructioninsidethe Muskogee city limits. The housing infill palette should be ready to roll outbytheendofthesummer.
Newconstruction
Texas born and brewed HTeaO is currently under construction on Shawnee Bypass, in front of WalMart. The nation’s largest ice tea franchise offers a range of ultrapremium tea, water and coffee products.
AnimalControl
The Animal Control Department responds to calls concerning animal complaints or investigations within the city limits. Furthermore, the Animal Control Department manages the spay and neuter assistance program, offering eligible residents access to low-cost or complimentary sterilization servicesfortheirdogsandcats.
