Local/Area News
Henryetta fire chief David Bullard was named city manager Tuesday night.
Bullard will be retiring from his current position and officially move into the new office Oct. 2.
He has been fire chief for the past 14 years and had worked in several other positions in the city prior to that.
The announcement was made following a nearly 30-minute executive session. He will be taking the position on a three-year contract.
Until that time, Donna White will remain as interim city manager.
During the executive session, council members had discussed purchasing some property. White will negotiate the price of the property.
The Henryetta park board was reconstituted Tuesday night with seven people named to serve for three and four year terms.
Those board members for the four-year terms include: Jeremy Roberts, Nita Robertson, Keith Hair and James McCullough. Named to three year terms were Steve Sanford, Jill Francis and Laura Goodner.
Council members approved the appointment of Dr. David Warden to the Henryetta Economic Development Authority and reappointed Ron Dombek to the Hospital Authority Board with Diana Carter as an alternate for a five year term.
A request by the chamber of commerce to close down one block of Main Street from Fourth to Fifth streets was modified.
Mayor Michael Dickey said there was a concern over the event being held at night as well as Main Street is a designated state highway.
Discussion about the Monster Mash event Oct. 28 revolved around blocking Fifth Street from Main to Trudgeon and using the recently renovated parking area for some of the events.
Chamber executive director pointed out the original thought was to hold the event on Main Street to allow several businesses to take advantage of the increased foot traffic.
Councilor Jennifer Munholland suggested blocking off both north and south Fifth Street. The problem with people crossing Main Street was brought up as an issue with that.
The council finally gave approval for the north Fifth street closure.
Another October event, Cruise Knight, will have bounce houses set up for youngsters with the council giving $600 toward that event. Cruise Knight will be held Oct. 14.
In the Municipal Authority portion of the meeting, council members approved the purchase of digital water meters at a cost of $72,987. That will convert some of the water meters in the town.
The city will be able to get readings from those meters through a hand held device.
The cost is expected to be reimbursed from a grant.
Henryetta will be getting a new trash truck. The decision was made to spend $343,735 with delivery expected by the end of the year.
The city will be seeking bids for a pump station on Fourth Street.
There's going to be a lot of activity and even some scares in store next month in Henryetta. Chamber of Commerce executive director Genny Mooney and special events chair Lyle Stogner discuss those plans and encourage everyone to come to town and be a part of the fun.
According to Jody Agee, city code enforcement officer, the stakes were placed there by crews working for Oklahoma Natural Gas as part of a gas line marking program.
Several homeowners were taken aback by the wooden objects bearing only the words “Road Row.” In one case, a homeowner attempted to find out from the crew members what was going on since workers were not wearing any identification badges or uniforms.
That worker only provided the homeowner with a quick view of their drivers license but no further information.
Agee said it is unusual for a utility firm to work in yards around town without contacting city hall first.
Attempts were made to contact Oklahoma Natural Gas company officials but no phone calls were returned.
Henryetta city council members took the first step toward naming a new city manager Tuesday evening.
At a special meeting at city hall, council members spent an hour in executive session going over applicants for the post that was vacated last month.
During the closed-door meeting, the council visited with Henryetta fire chief David Bullard but no other individuals were called in to the meeting.
Each councilor had an envelope filled with papers but no names were released.
The meeting ended with no announcements.
For the fourth time since January and the second consecutive month in the current fiscal year, Henryetta’s sales tax check was less than last year.
The September distribution of sales tax money amounted to $291,596.08 this year, a drop of $8,577 from last year. June’s check from the state was the only one in the current fiscal year that was above the previous year and only by $4,050. The city operates on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year basis.
A bright note did accompany the state report with Henryetta’s use tax check this month for $36,255, an increase of $6,978 from a year ago.
Sales tax revenue is based on July business.
The drop in sales tax revenue was not restricted to just Henryetta.
Similar declines were felt by Beggs, down $6,535, Checotah, down $4,133, Morris, down $6,029, Okmulgee, down $11,288 and Weleetka, down $827.
Okmulgee County’s sales tax collections continued to show an increase. This month the county received $496,557.02. That was a $6,106 gain from last year and the eighth consecutive month with increases from $2022.
Statewide, $200,587,224 in sales tax collections went back to cities and towns reflecting an increase of $1,205,740 from the $199,381,484 distributed to them in September last year.
| Town | 2023 | 2022 | Gain/Loss |
| Henryetta | $291,596.08 | $300,173.72 | -$8,577.64 |
| Dewar | $14,015.37 | $13,109.25 | $906.12 |
| Beggs | $41,454.10 | $47,989.65 | -$6,535.55 |
| Checotah | $447,656.99 | $451,790.34 | -$4,133.35 |
| Eufaula | $293,246.73 | $241,426.53 | $51,820.20 |
| Morris | $20,687.39 | $26,716.59 | -$6,029.20 |
| Okmulgee | $666,462.33 | $677,750.71 | -$11,288.38 |
| Okemah | $143,233.88 | $129,559.88 | $13,674.00 |
| Weleetka | $19,123.89 | $19,951.62 | -$827.73 |