The Guymon City Council voted to follow its liability carrier’s recommendation and uphold the denial of a claim filed by resident Jim Kelly over alleged stormwater damage at 207 Northeast 22nd Street, while staff said they will order a survey and examine needed alley reconstruction.

Kelly told the council he experienced two recorded events: one with about 2–3 inches of rain that he says flooded the entry, living room, bedroom and kitchen; and a later, larger event that he estimated at 8–10 inches. He said city crews had run a maintainer down the alley but did not perform a survey or more extensive work and argued the alley’s elevation prevented drainage to the north.

Staff and insurer recommendation
City staff presented the claim packet and told the council the matter had been investigated by the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG), the city’s liability carrier. OMAG recommended denial, stating it found no city liability. The city manager told the council that historically the council has followed OMAG’s legal recommendations and that the city is not required to act on the claim unless it chooses to do so.

Council action and procedural notes
Councilmember [motion maker not specified] moved that the council “stick with OMAG’s decision on the denial of Jim Kelly’s claim.” The motion passed on recorded votes with Setzer voting nay and the other four voting aye (result: 3 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent as recorded). Councilmembers advised Kelly his remaining option is to obtain legal counsel and pursue a claim against the insurer (OMAG); staff noted that such suits often result in settlement through insurance litigation but that litigation is the homeowner’s choice.

Survey and alley work
Separately, the agenda item included authorization for the city manager to order a survey for reconstruction of the alley behind 207 NE 22nd Street and to obtain a reconstruction quote (the agenda packet referenced a Scantlin/Scampins floor-repair quote for residential repair of $19,867.50). City staff confirmed the city manager has administrative authority to order the survey without a separate council vote and said staff will follow up to schedule surveying and investigate drainage options for that alleyway.

Why it matters
Kelly’s comments raised a broader maintenance question about alley drainage in that neighborhood. Council members and staff emphasized the distinction between following insurer counsel regarding liability and the city’s separate maintenance obligations: staff acknowledged historic challenges maintaining alleys and said the city will pursue the survey and further review of the drainage to try to reduce future risks to properties.

What residents were told
The council recommended Kelly pursue counsel if he wished to challenge the denial; staff offered to pursue a survey and to follow up on potential repair options for the alley. No council motion to directly pay the claim was approved.