City Manager’s
SEPTEMBER 2025
Letterfrom the CityManager
HelloMuskogee,
Lastweek,IhadtheprivilegeofattendingtheNAACPFreedomFundBanquet.The themeoftheeveningwas“TheUrgencyofNow.”AsIlistened,Icouldn’thelpbut reflectonhowpowerfullythatideaspeakstoushereinMuskogee.
Toooften,wetalkaboutthefutureasifit’sadistanthorizon,somethingwewillget toeventually.Butthetruthis,thechoiceswemaketodayshapethekindofcitywe become tomorrow. The “urgency of now” is about not waiting, not postponing progress,andnotsettlingfor“someday.”It’saboutrecognizingthatthetimetoact, tobuild,andtouniteisrightnow.Ifnotnow,when?
ForMuskogee,thatmeanstacklingchallengeshead-oninsteadofpassingthem down the road. It means addressing our infrastructure needs with resolve, supporting economic growth with creativity, and ensuring every neighborhood feels connected to the city’s progress. It means choosing collaboration over division,andactionoverhesitation.
Buttheurgencyofnowisnotjustaboutbigprojectsorpolicydecisions.It’sabout theeverydaywaysweshowupforoneanother.It’sintheneighborwhohelpspick uplitterontheirstreet.It’sinthelocalbusinessthatinvestsinourcommunity.It’sin cityemployeeswhogoaboveandbeyondtoserveresidents.Eachsmallactadds uptothekindofprogressweallwanttosee.
AsyourCityManager,IbelieveMuskogee’sgreatestopportunitieswillnotwaitfor us.Theywillsimplypassusbyifwefailtoseizethem.That’swhynowisthetimeto leanin,worktogether,andsetthecourseforthefuturewewant.Ifnotnow,when?
Thankyouforyourcontinuedtrustandsupport.Theworkbeforeusisgreat,butso too is the potential of this city we all love. Muskogee’s best future starts with the stepswetaketoday,notsomeday.
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.
September,
2,251
Parade,whichtookplaceinDowntown Muskogee.
K-9 Officer Nono made a special visit tothestudentsatHilldaleElementary, where he conducted an engaging presentation.
ThePublicSafetyComplexis progressingasplanned.Radioshave beenorderedandreceived;theyare nowawaitingprogrammingbefore beingissuedtothePolice DepartmentandEmergency Management.
Officersdistributedstickerstochildren.
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.
Planning&CodeEnforcement
SarahWinkle,Director
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&Recycling
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, recycling center and the watertreatmentplant.
The Country Club Culvert Project is making great strides. The new roadisnowopenfortraffic,constructionofthewingwallsonthebox culvert is underway, and the detour road is scheduled to be removedinOctober.
SolidWaste
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.
PublicWorks/Streets
MichaelStewart,Director
UtilityCutRepairs InSeptember...
TheStreetDivisionCompleted
MicrosealedareasintheSoutheast Quadrantofthecity.
MicrosealedtheMidlandValleyarea.
Completedamillandoverlay projectonN.14thStreet,extending fromOkmulgeetoEmporia.
TullStreetunderwentmillingin sectionsandreceivedanoverlay fromYorktoSeminole.
N.24thStunderwentmicrosealand restriping.
TheCountryClubSidewalkprojectis makingsteadyprogress,withforms established,initialgrading completed,andthepedestrian bridgebeinginstalled.Thisprojectis expectedtobefinishedinOctober, providingsignificantbenefitsto pedestriantrafficinthearea. (picturedontheleft)
Catch all of the latest City of Muskogee information every Tuesday morning on the Muskogee Minute with City Manager Kendal Francis, live on OkieCountry101.7.
WasteWaterTreatment
Gallonsof WasteWater TreatedinSeptember
GallonsofWasteWater TreatedinFY2026
4,260,000
120,035,000
4,460,000 TotalProduction
395,445,000
JudyVillalobos,CommunicationsManager
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.
SeptemberAccomplishments:
Thesplashpadseasonconcluded onSeptember30th.
RiverCountryFamilyWaterPark attracted55,525visitors.
Enrolled266participantsinsummer swimlessons
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.
InSeptember,
theHumanResourcesDepartmenthired...
JamaalWheat,HatboxSportsComplexMaintenanceWorkerII
BenLeHocky,EsportsFacilitiesCoordinator
MarcGuyTheYounger,AssistantEsportsArenaCoordinator
DerrickDavis,SolidWasteOperator
AnnmarieGibbs,ParkDevelopment-PapillonSupportPersonnel AudryVazquez,Custodain
BooneLasater,Firefighter
OscarRay,CivicCenterMaintenanceWorkerI
JasonCooke,Parks&RecreationMaintenanceWorkerII
BarbaraMinnick,Cashier
ColtenPurdom,Water/SewerMaintenanceWorkerII
BaileyHarman,CivicCenterMarketing&EventsManager
NathanPalmer,WaterDistributionMaintenanceWorkerII
JeremiahGuinn,DesktopSupportSpecialist
CodyPatton,WaterDistributionMaintenanceWorkerII
EmployeePromotions
CongratulationstothefollowingemployeeswhoreceivedapromotioninSeptember:
BrentWatson-Roberts,fromChief BuildingInspectortoDeputyDirector ofPlanning&Community Development
SarahWinkle,fromDeputyDirectorof Planning&CommunityDevelopment toDirectorofPlanning&Community Development
LawandaClark,fromCourtClerkOffice AssistantIItoDeputyCourtClerk
MorganWaters,fromPlanning& CommunityDevelopmentOffice AdministratorItoExecutiveAssistanttothe CityManager
EmergencyManagement&
MuskogeeRegionalDavisAirport
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.
InSeptember,
Assistedinaddressingawaterline issuebycoordinatingeffortsamong variousagencies,including MuskogeeCountyEmergency Management,theV.A.Hospital,Public Works,CreekNationEmergency Management,WagonerCounty EmergencyManagement,Fort GibsonFireDepartment,and MountainViewFireDepartment.This collaborationsuccessfullydelivered over52,000gallonsofwatertothe V.A.Hospital,helpingtopreventits evacuation.
Multiplevisitsofprivatejetsintothe airporttoincludelocalbusinessessuch
Conductedseveralmeetingswith StateOfficialsregardingCDBG (CommunityDevelopmentBlock Grant).
ParticipatedintheNERegionalEM Workshop.
MetwiththeNorthEastState CoordinatorfromtheOklahoma DepartmentofEmergency Management.
Deliveredapresentationon EmergencyManagementatthe RotaryClubofMuskogee.
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
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.
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.
Tourism&Exposition
JustinO’Neal,DirectorofTourism&Exposition
