City Manager’s
MARCH 2026
Letterfromthe CityManager
HelloMuskogee,
Last July, the City made a strategic decision to bring our tourism efforts back in-house, transitioningVisitMuskogeeunderdirectCityleadership.Atthetime,thegoalwassimple:create alignment,improveaccountability,andintentionallygrowtourismasaneconomicdriverforour community
Now,tenmonthslater,weareseeingtheresultsofthatdecisioninaveryrealandmeasurableway
UndertheleadershipofJustinO'Neal,ourTourismandExpositionteamhashitthegroundrunning. Theyhavebuiltmomentum,strengthenedpartnerships,andelevatedMuskogee’spresenceasa destinationforhigh-qualityevents.Theworktheyaredoingisnotjustaboutfillingacalendar.Itis aboutbuildingabrand,creatingexperiences,anddrivingeconomicactivitythatbenefitsourentire community.
Weareseeinganincreaseinthenumberofhigh-profileevents,strongervisitordraw,andthekind ofenergythatyoucanfeelacrossthecity Thatmomentumisalsotranslatingintoincreasedsales tax,whichsupportstheservicesandinfrastructurethatmakeMuskogeeagreatplacetolive
ThatprogresswasonfulldisplaywiththerecentJoDeeMessinaconcertattheMuskogeeCivic Center.Thiswasoneofthehighest-profileeventswehavehosted,anditdeliveredineveryway. Over 2,400 people attended the concert. Visitors came from 16 different states and 148 cities outsideofMuskogeeCounty.Theeventgeneratedmorethan120overnightstaysandproducedan estimated$300,000ineconomicimpact.
But beyond the numbers, the impact was visible across the community Restaurants were full beforetheshow Businessessawincreasedactivityafter Fromdowntowntootherpartsofthecity, youcouldfeeltheenergythatasuccessfuleventbrings
ThisisexactlywhybringingtourismbackunderCitycontrolmatters.Itallowsustobeintentional, coordinated,andfocusedonlong-termresults,andwearejustgettingstarted.
StaytunedforeventsliketheBassmasterEliteSeriesfishingtournamentandtheaccompanying ReelCountryNights,andtheexcitingPowerSportsExpoinMay.Theseeventswillcontinuetobuild onthemomentumweareseeingandfurtherestablishMuskogeeasadestinationforvisitorsfrom acrosstheregionandbeyond
We are building something here Not just a schedule of events, but a stronger, more vibrant Muskogee.
MPD responded to 2,213 calls for service in March 2026, a 6.7% decrease from February 2025, and notably lower than February 2024 levels.
Planning&CodeEnforcement
SarahWinkle,Director
CodeEnforcementeffortsfocusonidentifying and addressing the most common neighborhoodissuestoimproveappearance, safetyandpropertyvalues
Sec.38-38.Accumulationof trashorweedsunlawful. It is unlawful for any owner or occupant of any lot, tract or parcel of land situated wholly or inpartwithinthecorporatelimits of the city to allow trash or weeds to grow, stand or accumulate upon such premises. It is the duty of such owner or occupant to remove or destroyanysuchtrashorweeds. The premises for which the owneroroccupantisresponsible includes his portion of the adjoining streets, rights-of-way, parkways, alleys, sidewalks, public utility easements, storm drains,ditchesandgutters.
* The total cases marked In Compliance and Closed indicate status updates made in March, not necessarily the creation date of the case EXAMPLE: Case could have been opened in January for DPP, but wasn’t abated or done by owner until February.
TypesofCaseVioltions
Planning&CodeEnforcement
Whatistheinspectionsdepartmentgoverning code?
Answer: The Inspections department adopts the same code as the State of Oklahoma which is the2018InternationalResidentialCode(IRC)and theInternationalBuildingCode(IBC)throughthe InternationalCodeCouncil(ICC).
MichaelStewart,Director
Marchcollectionnumbersreflectsteadyservicedemand across the city. Crews continue providing reliable weekly refuseservicetokeepneighborhoodscleanandsafe. AzaleaClean-Up&FreeDumpDays CommunityImpact.
A total of 55 groups and 1,436 volunteers participated in citywide cleanupefforts.
City operations supported high demand,with1,106vehicledrop-offs attheMaterialYardand571vehicles drop-offs at the Brush & Limb Site, resultingin289dumptrucksfilled.
PublicWorks/Streets
MichaelStewart,Director
CatchBasinReplacementProject
PublicWorksisreplacingolder,dam catchbasins Thenewdesignsimpr
24thStreetStormSewerProj ( )
Thisprojectincludesreplacing1,000feetofoutdatedclaystormsewerwithmodern24-inch pipe.Millandoverlayscheduledformid-April.
PublicWorks/Streets
MichaelStewart,Director
StreetImprovements
S.CountryClubWideningProject
InMarch,sewerinfrastructurewasinstalledonSouthCountryClubRoad
Thisprojectwillimprovetrafficflow,increasesafety,andsupportcontinuedgrowthalong thiskeycorridor.
Mill&Overlay
Mill and overlay operations are in progress, with street resurfacing starting near Hilldale ElementaryalongthePeakBlvd.accessroad(asshownintheimagesbelow).
MichaelStewart,Director
DrinkingWaterTreatment
MichaelStewart,Director
4,450,000
1,192,159,000
Parks&Recreation
RickEwing,InterimDirector
38 Annual Arbor Day Celebration held with 41 trees planted,including13memorialtrees.
The Swim & Fitness Center continues to be an active hub for health, recreation and aquatic programs
100 locally painted Azalea Festival banners displayed acrossthecity.
Parks&Recreation
RickEwing,InterimDirector
Parks&FacilityImprovements
Repairsandupgradesacrossparks,including: Playgroundrepairs
Restroomrenovationsandre-openings(RobisonPark,Depo Green)
Drinkingfountainsandrestroomupgradesatsports complexes
Waterparkupgrades: Pumprepairs,filterreplacement,alarmsystemandsecurity cameras
Seasonalreadiness:
Parks,trails,andgardensbeingde-winterizedandprepared forspring
SpauldingPark
NewdrivewayandparkingspaceshavebeeninstalledattheScout House. This enhancement is a fantastic addition to our most sought-afterfacilityrental.
Parks&Recreation
Parks&Recreation
RickEwing,InterimDirector
AzaleaFestivalEvents
Azalea Run scheduled for April 11 at Honor Heights Park. th
FlowerPowerBicycleRideis celebrating its 35 anniversary on April 25 at Three Forks Harbor Riders areregisteringfromacross thecountry.Routesinclude 10,30,50,70,and100miles options. th th
Free Outdoor Fitness Programming during the Festival Programs include: Pilates,Yoga&Community social runs hosted by the Muskogee Running Club. These programs will be held at the Papilion at HonorHeightsPark
Parks&Recreation
RickEwing,InterimDirector
EmergencyManagement
TylerEvans,Director
TheEmergencyManagementDepartmentprovidedassistanceto multipledepartments,including: Police(2callsforservice)
FireDepartment(2callsforservice)
CountyEmergencyManagement(2callsforservice)
Deputy Director of Emergency Management Kelly Bolding had the opportunitytoteachathird-gradeclassat Irving Elementary in collaboration with JuniorAchievementofOklahoma.
DIDYOUKNOW?
The Outdoor Weather System is not just for tornados. If sirens are activated you should go inside and seekfurtherinformationfromanews channel or your weather radio. You should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts Sign up to get alerts on your phone, a weather app,yourfavoritenewschanneland weather radios are good ways to keeptrackoftheweather
TylerEvans,Director
DavisFieldAviation’smechanicisperformingtheannualinspectiononaNorth American Harvard T-6, fondly referred to as Big Red. These thorough checks ensure the aircraft remains safe, robust, and prepared for countless more adventuresintheskies.
DennisRead,Director
DennisRead,Director
2025CIPSalesTaxRenewal
OnJuly8,2025,MuskogeevotersapprovedrenewingtheCIP (CapitalImprovementPlan)salestaxtofundimportant communityprojectsoverthenexteight(8)years.
HowtheTaxisCollected
ContinuanceofSalesTaxRenewalCollectionBegan:October1, 2025.
UseofFunds:Onlyfortheprojectsonthevoterapproved proposition.FundsarecollectedbytheStateofOklahoma,then distributedtothecity.Oncereceived,thefundswillbemanaged andsaveduntiltheyareallocatedtospecificprojects.
Stayinginformed
Allinformationandupdatesontheseprojectswillbeavailableon theCity'swebsitethroughouttheeight(8)yearsoftheCIPsales taxcollection.
FleetServices
RobertSweptson,Director
AnimalControl
Bringyourfurryfriendsto Coody Creek Bark Park
This beautiful dog park is filled with mature shade trees, grassy plains and has plenty of room for your pup to roam The Coody Creek Bark Park is afullyfenced-indogpark thathasaseparatearea for small dogs and large dogs. The park also features agility equipment and a water fountain Coody Creek alsohasacoveredpicnic area, bathrooms, benches and a nearby trailtoexplore
AnimalControl
TylerEvans,Director
AdoptaNewCompanionfromtheMuskogee AnimalShelter
The animals shown here are ready for loving homes and approved for adoption. Adoption fees are $100 for dogs, $80 for cats, and $30 for animals that arrive already spayedorneutered.Alladoptionfeesincludespay/neutersurgery,arabiesvaccination, andaDHLPPbooster.TheMuskogeeAnimalShelterisamandatoryspay/neutershelter, committedtoresponsiblepetownershipinourcommunity Toadoptcall(918)684-6285 orvisittheAnimalShelterat4002BorderAve.,Monday-Fridayfrom10:00a.m.to4:00 p.m.
Tourism&Exposition
JustinO’Neal,DirectorofTourism&Exposition
