Tahlequah Daily Press

Local News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 20, 2009

Councilors eye hands-on approach to city budget

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Tahlequah city officials will begin work in the next few weeks on a 2009-’10 budget.

That process will apparently feature more interaction with city councilors than in previous years. Ward 1 Councilor Jason Nichols brought up the issue for discussion, suggesting that the council be involved in some of the early meetings.

“I may be the only councilor who thinks this, but I’d like to be there so we can see where the figures you give us in May come from,” Nichols told Purdy.

“That’s fine,” Purdy said.

Nichols said steps could be taken so that no more than two councilors appear at a meeting with a department head. Otherwise, an Open Meeting Law issue could be created.

Purdy said councilors will be given a budget calendar before the process starts. He said the CEO of the city is required by law to provide a balanced budget to the council at least 30 days before the start of the fiscal year. The law, he said, also requires a public hearing 15 days prior to the start of the fiscal year, and notice of the hearing has to be given five days before the hearing.

“We’ll probably be getting started in March,” the mayor said. “We always try to have something to you by the first of May to mid-May.”

The council voted to allow Boy Scout Troop 794 to sponsor a Sam’s Amusements carnival May 12-17 on property between Fourth and Fifth streets and Basin and Muskogee Place.

Dr. Charles Carroll, Planning and Zoning Commission chairman, told the council about a request to rezone the 315 N. College property from R-2 to R-2 special use to allow for a psychologist’s office. The request was unanimously approved by Planning and Zoning and will be considered by the council at its next meeting.

New contracts were approved for Tahlequah Soccer, Cherokee County Girls Softball, Boys & Girls Club Baseball and American Legion Baseball.

The council approved the resignation of Chad Grauke from the IT Department. Human Resources Director Sue Stacy said Grauke accepted a full-time position with Tahlequah Public Works Authority and was in a part-time position with the IT Department.

Nichols, who headed the IT Department when he worked for the city before seeking the council seat, said Grauke was the last person there who worked with him when he was on the city payroll. “The city’s loss is TPWA’s gain,” he said.

A memorandum of understanding and related documents enabling Cherokee Nation to seek funding for road improvements under the Indian Reservation Roads program was also approved by the council.



What’s next

The next regular meeting of the Tahlequah City Council will be Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

Text Only
Local News
  • kp Burger main.tif What’s on the bun?

    Perhaps no other food on the American summer holiday menu epitomizes patriotism more than a good old-fashioned hamburger.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Best gifts can be made from scratch

    When hand-crafting gifts to honor loved ones or friends, a fellowship can be born.

    May 25, 2012

  • Injury crash provokes felony charge

    Prosecutors have charged a Tahlequah man for his alleged role in causing a crash that put another man on life support.
    The charges stem from a May 18 crash at the intersection of the State Highway 51 West bypass and Vinita.

    May 25, 2012

  • Testimony in Butcher trial centers on evidence

    Testimony given throughout the day Thursday in the first-degree murder case against Bronson William Butcher centered mostly on the state’s investigation of the case.

    May 25, 2012

  • Oklahoma City man charged with larceny here

    Prosecutors in Cherokee County have charged an Oklahoma City man with grand larceny, second-degree burglary, and larceny of an automobile.

    May 25, 2012

  • Local men’s shelter at risk of closing

    Tom Lewis walked through the semi-completed expansion at Project O Si Yo Thursday, pointing out what services could be provided to area homeless men, if only the funding were available.

    May 25, 2012

  • jn tps cmty meeting.tif TPS officials eye earlier start times

    A handful of Tahlequah Public Schools parents voiced concern Wednesday evening about a potential change in school start-and-stop times for the upcoming year.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Food for thought

    With representatives from the Oklahoma Farm & Food Alliance, Sustainable Green Country and Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Division in attendance, the Tahlequah Food Policy Council on Tuesday shared their ideas on establishing sustainable local food sources for retail ventures.

    May 24, 2012

  • Defense attorney: Witness changed his story

    The defense counsel for Bronson Butcher on Wednesday targeted eyewitness accounts of a man who claims he saw the accused shoot an Oktaha man at a Tahlequah home in March 2011.

    May 24, 2012

  • ra CancerCarnival.tif TMS Cancer Carnival raises funds

    The Tahlequah Middle School Student Council held its 6th Annual Student Council Cancer Carnival Wednesday to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo