[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6521019,"mediaKeyId","5114775-ff58ae6af898b9a78c88133b82c63d87","parentId",5114775,"title","Votes at a glance: Altus council approves contracts and routine items, moves forward on parks and capital projects","audioSeconds",71,"startMs",266000,"endMs",337000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114775-ff58ae6af898b9a78c88133b82c63d87&start=266&end=337","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114775-ff58ae6af898b9a78c88133b82c63d87/thumbnail_266000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6521019/Altus/Jackson-County/Oklahoma/Votes-at-a-glance-Altus-council-approves-contracts-and-routine-items-moves-forward-on-parks-and-capital-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521019-02411b1a3fde5e79c84c0d339ea91ee9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061287&Signature=NWwNj1siRJ1EGBejNLvF-xMy2rbjZ~KBe~LzbbUwbn2fWCtz2Mu6ep-BhbqaAfA6IbPOBt5iBmLiyP0IwxBz8Cfn4m~DVWKuWRTimJ6gRBoyvx7-Sfhj1g~ltPEZxWFt1v9AuxhU8BFdXXYO~VEZ4LwYzkPtYi6X3V2PrxwxF~auLptxt824MZ-Eqjsr6uTmYOot7zsSJn4y7gz5UvTjiECQ2b1QYswuSnQ8EH1-mnCnSkd0eFKlCwJfyjvT6rO-tG0scqpgpFvNPVMWeus-wCi0WN4fU0TqF0k4bfxy1a-aI3MSEklG3uDehVP08AjdmUJDJm8SQNg5gD3qOep78g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Altus, OK","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Altus City Council took a series of formal votes on contracts, resolutions and routine municipal business. Most items were approved by roll call during the meeting. The following is a summary of actions taken and outcomes recorded on the meeting agenda.

Key approvals (selected agenda items)
- Consent agenda (item 4): Approved by roll call (members recorded as voting yes during roll call sequence).
- Item 6 (Employee safety handbook): Council voted to approve and adopt the City of Altus employee safety handbook (vote recorded as approved by roll call).
- Item 7 (bulk trash pickup and alley cleanup): Awarded to JS Firm Enterprise LLC of Altus, Oklahoma; stated contract terms in meeting: $115 per ton for collection, hauling and disposal, and $30,000 per cycle to mow and trim alleys (one year cycle); approved by council vote.
- Item 8 (annual contract): Renew contract with Hargrave Environmental Services LLC (Jenks, Oklahoma) for $20,000 annually to provide professional services related to wastewater pretreatment program and OPDES MS4 permit compliance; approved.
- Item 9 (change order): Approve Change Order No. 1 to TriCor Group LLC (Oklahoma City) for construction and demolition sale at the Altus municipal landfill decreasing contract fees by $19,923; approved and mayor authorized to sign.
- Item 10 (Trust Manager's reports): No comments; informational.
- Item 11 (Amendment No. 2 with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation): Approved to move the Bitter Creek Shooting Sports Complex project toward bidding and to allow the federal side to place purchase orders to allocate funds; approved.
- Item 12 (contract with Altus Chamber of Commerce): Extension of existing contract with the chamber; approved.
- Item 13 (Missile Park improvements): Council directed city manager and staff to begin improvements to Missile Park as soon as possible (demolition/prep work where feasible); approved.
- Item 13/Altus Trails Phase 2 acceptance: Accepted work performed by MCR 230 Construction of Altus, OK as complete for Altus Trails Phase 2 and authorized mayor to sign the letter of acceptance; approved.
- Item 14 (interagency contract — household hazardous waste): Approved an interagency contract with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to reimburse the city up to $25,000 for costs to hold an event to collect, haul and dispose of household hazardous waste; approved.
- Item 15 (agreement with Operation Care): Approved agreement to provide quality of life services to residents of Altus; approved.
- Item 16 (surplus fire/EMS vehicles and equipment): Council approved surplus and disposal at the discretion of the city manager; approved.

Meeting notes: Several approvals were procedural or routine contract renewals. The council discussed the scope and phasing of larger capital projects (notably Missile Park) and emphasized the need to identify funds before letting large construction contracts. For some items, staff noted that portions of work can be done in house to lower costs

Ending: The meeting concluded after members offered compliments to staff on recent community events and projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Altus Municipal Authority Regular Meeting 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its recent meeting, the Altus City Council approved multiple contracts, a change order, intergovernmental agreements, and routine items; it also authorized actions on parks projects and surplus equipment. Below is a concise list of motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting.","taxTitle","Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma","taxId",63715,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6521022,"Altus council approves 4% short‑term stay tax, sets election and earmarks revenue for parks; directs initial work at Missile Park",1069,669000,1738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5114775-ff58ae6af898b9a78c88133b82c63d87&start=669&end=1738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5114775-ff58ae6af898b9a78c88133b82c63d87/thumbnail_669000.jpg","/articles/6521022/Altus/Jackson-County/Oklahoma/Altus-council-approves-4-shortterm-stay-tax-sets-election-and-earmarks-revenue-for-parks-directs-initial-work-at-Missile-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521022-1ca4cd704e49aa3364ca5098064ca497/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061287&Signature=lEyuD4O~v4vXrpTdWHy5jL3fHMgZ7XdC80Jm9O477Cg2CAMF6HRhE-WcYwvXPZ3Qx2noKD7fIHumeKgnqk7ADozQqlXZUVMZY9C5uXnrHS-fs3hGF7n-5t-ypaxFtrujoff1XfhaCstfjDM5K5RF9uHN3E3l672GIJdtqyhWoPWC55zGE9FCO1EnHYDGOdh5l~k37jaN7RgmXL2N3I3dKajqt9Sg4e2evhwqISVfwwCtxdfwf2b3Wg0j4RYuC2mqzfJdbPZNSveHKiERMilDULYcADYsubDOsMx23ehfA-CNZN~-VusunMm4PkxMfraeXqD95HRCwwhPCgNq~1ZxCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Altus City Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2025‑16, which levies an additional 4% tax on short‑term stay facilities within the city, and approved companion resolutions to place the question before voters and create a dedicated fund for the revenue.

City staff said the tax revenue would be used solely for the addition or renovation of parks and recreation capital projects and large equipment purchases, and “shall not be used for daily operations,” language that appears in the ordinance and the related resolutions. The council also approved a resolution authorizing the Oklahoma Tax Commission to serve as the city’s collecting agent for municipal lodging taxes.

Why it matters: Council members tied the measure to a planned renovation of Missile Park and other recreation projects. City staff said the new revenue could be combined with existing MAPS funds and used as the basis for bonding to accelerate construction, and that initial demolition and preparatory work could begin with funds already on hand while larger contracts await identified funding.

Council action and next steps
- The council adopted Ordinance No. 2025‑16 to add the 4% tax on short‑term stay facilities as defined in the City of Altus code (article 4, section 40‑110). The ordinance text specifies that no tax exemption shall apply and that proceeds are restricted to capital parks and recreation projects.
- The council adopted Resolution No. 2025‑10 to call and hold an election on the additional 4% tax; the council discussed that the election will be held on Sept. 9 (date referenced in discussion).
- The council adopted Resolution No. 2025‑11 creating the Recreation Capital Project Fund to receive and hold the tax revenue and authorized Resolution No. 2025‑12 expressing the city’s intent to allow the Oklahoma Tax Commission to act as the municipal lodging tax collecting agent.

Funding context and timeline
City staff told the council that about $3 million has been set aside in the budget for recreation, and that roughly $1 million is currently available to start limited work. Staff estimated the new 4% tax would generate roughly $400,000–$500,000 per year. Staff described two paths: (1) phase the project, beginning with demolition, grading and smaller improvements now; or (2) use the new tax revenue as an established revenue stream to support bonding to finance a larger, faster buildout.

On Missile Park specifically, council directed staff to begin demolition and preparatory work where feasible, while acknowledging major construction contracts will require funds to be identified and in hand. Staff said in‑house crews and equipment from the street department and a grounds crew at the nearby base could perform some grading and site work, reducing costs.

Council comments and context
City staff (city manager) described the tax and revenue flow, including MAPS funds that will continue to build up and may be used alongside the new tax revenue. The city manager said, “We were looking at between 4 and $500,000 a year is what we anticipate that that should bring in.”

Several council members emphasized that the fee is intended for capital projects and not to raise property taxes. One council member urged staff and colleagues to present the measure to voters as a targeted recreation fee dedicated to capital improvements.

What the council did not decide
The council did not award any large construction contracts for full park rebuilds at the meeting. Staff said major contracts requiring full funding would wait until funds were identified or bonding was arranged. Several council members asked staff to pursue grants, but staff said most grants require the project to be construction‑ready.

Ending note
Council members said they hope to phase construction to avoid disrupting existing uses and to target a portion of the park that can be completed first. Staff and council discussed spring 2026 as a milestone for visible progress if funding and contracting timelines permit.","The Altus City Council adopted an ordinance to add a 4% tax on short‑term stay facilities, approved related resolutions to hold an election and create a dedicated Recreation Capital Project Fund, and directed city staff to begin initial demolition and site‑preparation work at Missile Park while planning phases continue.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Altus council approves contracts and routine items, moves forward on parks and capital projects

Altus council approves 4% short‑term stay tax, sets election and earmarks revenue for parks; directs initial work at Missile Park