[{"_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",6589824,"mediaKeyId","5443797-de0564404064dc7d7026e76840129d19","parentId",5443797,"title","Votes at a glance: McAlester council approves fiscal ordinance, airport fees and rail maintenance fee; multiple airport grants and contracts authorized","audioSeconds",594,"startMs",3517000,"endMs",4111000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5443797-de0564404064dc7d7026e76840129d19&start=3517&end=4111","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5443797-de0564404064dc7d7026e76840129d19/thumbnail_3517000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589824/McAlester/Pittsburg-County/Oklahoma/Votes-at-a-glance-McAlester-council-approves-fiscal-ordinance-airport-fees-and-rail-maintenance-fee-multiple-airport-grants-and-contracts-authorized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589824-bd33c45cf20d3e4d593fba919e2dd9c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197329&Signature=f~QhtlhPqBIoYHsgNPuzqexIYW9joHJ2O-9NgA0jNYUoEa-ew2TGgJS-cAWh9Ny9Yz-prsXHnDZxqrDZTNriWKmS9~85SxF-Q6L85ufAsGHG5JkKSA4z5PmZHiQAbTIDyPJQ5XY9Mr1lmF6rV-6kyOs0Ygv75--Hj0uCV2aYw7RDgKkkyUInbkXFcf498OPZo4W9hG~r9YhGuCYvTwIJQDy~jE1Di0RIfQaShmlJlGE7PQYpARYDrakmQbRyDMVd5JYMuY6uKQtJALM2ergNXy31J4Quu-cBsafQVfxQ7oRCLKc2d5hcKR3olZ~8r9gIDm4LQRri8aO1JnyDRL2aFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mcalester","date","2025-07-23T00:46:04.583Z","article","At its July 22 meeting the McAlester City Council approved several ordinances and resolutions covering the city budget, airport operations and projects, and railroad industrial‑track maintenance. Council votes were recorded by roll call; the items below list each formal action and the council’s stated outcome.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved (motion carried by roll call). Items on the consent agenda were adopted as routine.

- Ordinance No. 2812 (amend 2024–25 budget; emergency clause): Council approved the ordinance amending the fiscal year 2024–25 budget (including supplemental exhibits A‑6, A‑7, A‑8) to add additional revenues, adjust transfers, and reflect forfeitures and other receipts. The council also approved the ordinance’s emergency clause. (Roll call: motion carried.)

- Airport after‑hours service fee ordinance: Council approved an ordinance adding after‑hours support/refueling service fees to the McAlester City Code (chapter 14 §14‑30) and adding corresponding fees to chapter 48. Staff said the fee aligns local practice with what comparable non‑24/7 airports charge so the city can recover overtime/comp time costs when technicians respond after hours. (Motion carried by roll call.)

- Railroad operations / industrial track management ordinance: Council adopted a code chapter to establish inspection and maintenance fees for industrial track in the Stephen Taylor Industrial Park and to set a scheduled maintenance plan (replacement of roughly one‑third of ties over a 10‑year cycle as recommended by the railroad). Staff said the city has spent approximately $84,000 on track maintenance since April and sought a structure to recover costs and require primary users to pay a portion of inspections/repairs. (Motion carried by roll call; ordinance effective date stated in meeting materials.)

- Airport grants resolution (taxiway and lighting rehabilitation): Council adopted a resolution authorizing application for and acceptance of grant offers from the U.S. Department of Transportation (BIL/AIP) and the Oklahoma Department of Aeronautics/Aerospace for the taxiway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation project at McAlester Regional Airport. Staff reported a total project estimate of $2,112,485.10 with federal and state funds covering most costs and a city match of $79,810.10 (~3.8% of project cost). (Motion carried by roll call.)

- Task order agreement No. 5 with H.W. Lochner, Inc.: Council authorized the mayor to sign a task order with H.W. Lochner, Inc. for construction inspection services (not to exceed $361,000) for the taxiway pavement rehabilitation project. H.W. Lochner is the airport’s engineer of record and will provide on‑site inspectors and laboratory testing during construction. (Motion carried.)

- Notice of award / construction contract contingent on grants: Council authorized the mayor to sign a notice of award and contract, contingent on receipt of grant funds, for the low bidder (Screedech LLC) for the taxiway pavement and lighting rehabilitation project. The base bid was reported at $1,278,537.50; including alternates the total bid amount presented to council was $1,547,985. (Motion carried.)

- Other minutes/authority confirmations: Council convened as the McAlester Airport Authority, McAlester Public Works Authority, McAlester Retirement Trust Authority, and McAlester Economic Development Authority to approve minutes and confirm actions taken on the city council agenda.

What council said about finances and operations

During consideration of the budget ordinance, staff presented a June financial update showing the general fund at about 91% of budgeted revenues to date and expenditures at about 98%. Staff also reviewed sales tax trends, use tax characteristics, water and utility receipts (noting AMI meter installations increased accuracy), and TIF payoff progress.

On airport items, staff and council thanked outgoing airport staff and emphasized the projects’ importance to economic development; the council discussed funding splits among BIL, AIP, and state aeronautics grants and confirmed the modest city match.

Why it matters: The airport contracts and grants pave the way for a multi‑million‑dollar rehabilitation of taxiway pavement and lighting intended to improve safety and airfield infrastructure and to leverage federal and state funds while the railroad operations ordinance creates a mechanism to recover rail maintenance costs from industrial users, reducing the city’s unrecovered maintenance spending.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New - Regular Council Meeting, July 22nd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The McAlester City Council approved the fiscal year 2024–25 budget amendments, an emergency clause, new airport after‑hours fees, an industrial‑track maintenance fee structure for the Stephen Taylor Industrial Park, and authorized multiple airport grant applications and construction contracts.","taxTitle","McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma","taxId",53915,"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},6589831,"McAlester council sends contested rezoning back to planning commission after lengthy debate over auto sales and towing",1305,255000,1560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5443797-de0564404064dc7d7026e76840129d19&start=255&end=1560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5443797-de0564404064dc7d7026e76840129d19/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6589831/McAlester/Pittsburg-County/Oklahoma/McAlester-council-sends-contested-rezoning-back-to-planning-commission-after-lengthy-debate-over-auto-sales-and-towing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589831-f2634b1ba95428aacf8cc44a88a6ca6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197329&Signature=bK10qFj~00P6Qal9ajWx0zanqoZIeNQzOjSSsOGUsANqVV6IjlROu7kZ2aBm28AAjEv~dT~i0Cq7X3Yus8uo4r~EtCNXT--EAl39UVxeFsA4bh-G9h7Biptj5~x3JTzLumYYL8tL7Nqk5EBqBcga6XqsBxCCKgIc900QXxW2r3JcPmZWKwCknOSqmrjjTsT3Bpfxx1-ap0bJ0ZEWzgvbStxDB2zEVOurqGMc5LTM-izjKhdKopqzea-CyhmkulJJohAIhwtCd5YU7DUzFxuFAL9kbuEtqJtUrETK4XS8mxV3LBOE628SNGk-YPhDew2827KvM0VBYfKLFJfFZK5fCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The McAlester City Council on July 22 voted to send a proposed rezoning for a small property at or near 806 North H Street back to the planning commission for further study and recommended code updates, after a lengthy discussion about whether the applicant’s auto sales and towing operations belong in an I‑2 (heavy industrial) zone or a commercial zone.

Planning coordinator Patty Hobbs told the council the application requested a change in classification for “Block 2, Block 188” under general zoning ordinance number 1843, from I‑1 (light industrial) to I‑2 (heavy industrial). Hobbs said staff and the applicant had discussed alternatives, including down‑zoning to a commercial category—C‑4 or C‑5—so the business could operate as an automobile sales lot with towing/recovery as an accessory use.

Hobbs said, “If I‑2 is not something that you would consider, possibly down‑zoning to maybe C‑5 might be a consideration.” She told council that auto sales are allowed in C‑4 and C‑5 but “wrecking” (the code term used in the land development code) is currently allowed only in I‑2. Hobbs recommended the planning commission consider whether wrecking/towing should be added to I‑1 or handled by a special use permit.

Applicant Larry Crawley told the council his business operates as a dealership and a vehicle recovery/impound operation. He said his dealer license was “in limbo” because the current zoning does not allow the activity at that address and that some vehicles on the site are held as impounds. Crawley said, “I have a wrecker license… I’m holding those in my impound yard,” and explained vehicles not claimed within 30 days are disposed of under state processes.

Council members and staff debated three approaches: approve the I‑2 rezoning, deny the rezoning and recommend the applicant pursue C‑4 or C‑5 commercial zoning (with auto sales as the primary use and towing as accessory), or remand the case to the planning commission to propose code changes or a tailored special‑use pathway for small lots with limited outdoor storage. City staff and the council discussed options to limit a code change’s scope—by lot size or numerical limit on outdoor storage—to avoid inadvertently allowing larger salvage yards where the comprehensive plan does not call for industrial uses.

Councilor Stompkins (council title used in the meeting) supported remanding the case to let the planning commission and staff draft recommended code language. After a motion to remand and a roll call vote, the council approved sending the application back to the planning commission with instructions to review classification of wrecking/towing services in the land development code and consider size or permit limits.

The council did not adopt the requested I‑2 rezoning at the meeting. Hobbs told the applicant staff would place the item on a near‑term planning commission agenda and that the city would work quickly to develop a recommended approach.

Why it matters: The decision delays a final rezoning but directs staff and the planning commission to clarify where vehicle recovery, impound, and related storage belong in McAlester’s land‑use code. Councilors repeatedly noted the property’s small size (roughly 19,000 square feet was discussed during the hearing) and the potential for unintended consequences if wrecking/towing were broadly added to I‑1 or other districts without size‑ or intensity‑based limits.

What’s next: The planning commission will review the case and return a recommendation to the council; staff said it is likely to appear on an upcoming agenda within weeks for further council consideration.

","The McAlester City Council remanded a request to rezone a small lot from I‑1 (light industrial) to I‑2 (heavy industrial) back to the planning commission for code changes and clearer rules about wrecking/towing uses, after a long public discussion about whether the applicant’s auto‑sales-and‑towing business fits existing zoning.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: McAlester council approves fiscal ordinance, airport fees and rail maintenance fee; multiple airport grants and contracts authorized

McAlester council sends contested rezoning back to planning commission after lengthy debate over auto sales and towing