The City of Kingfisher is “sitting really well” financially, according to its auditor.

That statement came from Laura Morgan, a senior accountant with CBEW Professional Group, LLP, the accounting firm that performed an audit for the 2024 fiscal year.

Morgan made her report last Monday during the May regular meeting of the city commissioners.

She told those in attendance that the city’s bank accounts had “healthy balances” and she commended City Treasurer Anita James for having “very organized books.”

Mayor Geoff Covalt, Vice Mayor Jeff Wittrock and Commissioners Dawn Taylor, Debbie Burpo and Kyle Mecklenburg unanimously approved the audit after Morgan’s report.

Also present at the meeting were James, City Manager Jim Thomas and City Clerk Brittney Hladik.

City Attorney Jared Harrison was unable to attend.

In other business, the commissioners approved the collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local #3434 union.

Kingfisher Fire Chief Ryan Gibson told commissioners the agreement was a two-year plan that included a 3 percent cost of living pay raise.

Savanah Storey, manager of Kingfisher’s pool, the K-Town Kove, presented the commissioners with a report on pool activities. She said the operation was running smoothly with summer hours set to go into effect soon.

Thomas commented that Storey was doing a good job of keeping employees engaged with cleaning and upkeep of the facilities.

The commissioners also heard from Ryan Smith and Marc Long of Smith, Roberts Baldischwiler (SRB) LLC, an engineering firm that’s conducting an ongoing capital improvement plan regarding the city’s infrastructure.

They reported that the city should implement 26 upgrades in its water and waste water systems that would total $17 million and 24 upgrades in the city’s streets and roads, totaling $4 million.

They said several of the upgrades were of high priority, but most could be implemented over a 10-year span, or even later for others.

Covalt commented that com- missioners would review the high priority issues in the very near future and would work with Thomas and department heads to develop plans for maintenance, upgrades and repairs.

The commissioners approved an agreement with Crawford & Associates for financial and accounting services, as well as a ballot vote for Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group’s board of directors.

Also approved was the plat plan for the Kingfisher Cemetery South Addition II and a police department 2017 Dodge Charger was approved to be sold at auction as surplus. The commissioners then went into executive session to discuss the reappointment of Hladik, James, Harrison and Municipal Judge Kurt Bollenbach.

Also discussed was the renewal of Thomas’s contract as city manager.

After spending approximately 50 minutes in executive session, the commissioners approved the rehiring of all, with the amendment of Thomas’s contract to include a 3 percent cost of living increase, and the stipulation that he would now have 160 hours of leave time for the coming fiscal year.

In her treasurer’s report, James said the account balances showed a net gain of slightly over $571,000, with slightly more than $11 million in the bank accounts.

Thomas reported that he and Gibson traveled to BRW Architects headquarters in Texas to visit about progress with the new fire station.

He said the talks were productive, but also reported that the project would be delayed a month and would now be put out to bid in July.

Thomas said he would report further on the project at next month’s meeting, as he was continuing to compile information.

The next meeting of the commission is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 9.