The Kingfisher City Commission approved next year’s operating budget and voted for a raise for the city manager Monday at its regular June meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a budget of $22.79 million for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

That’s an increase of just over $4 million for the 2024 operating budget.

According to discussion, a number of capital improvement projects led to the large increase.

The city is projected to have nearly $12.8 million in fund balances at the end of the fiscal year, an increase of about $900,000 over last year.

Also approved was a $10,000 increase to City Manager Jim Thomas’ salary.

Vice Mayor Jeff Wittrock and commissioners Dawn Taylor and Kyle Mecklenburg.

Thomas is nearing his one-year anniversary with the city.

He was hired in early July 2023 and officially began July 10.

The increase brings his base salary to $135,000.

( Ed. note: More details of the budget specifics and the city manager contract will be included in future editions.)

Commissioners also voted to rehire City Clerk Brittney Hladik and City Treasurer Anita James.

Contracts were also renewed for City Attorney Jared Harrison and Municipal Judge Kurt Bollenbach.

Present for the meeting were Mayor Geoff Covalt, Commissioner Debbie Burpo was not able to attend the meeting.

Also present were Thomas, Hladik, James and Harrison.

The commission heard from Ray Holliday, one of the principals of BRW Architectural firm of Dallas, Texas, which has been hired to build the new fire station.

Holliday told the commission that the firm has constructed 375 fire stations to date, averaging 20 per year over the past several years.

He assured the commission that his firm was very comfortable with the plans for the Kingfisher site and was looking to move forward with groundwork and construction at the new location at 1501 S. Main St. beginning in January 2025.

The home originally on the property has already been cleared away, with the property now ready for groundwork to begin.

The commission heard from Electric Department Manager Mark Gambill, who requested that the city begin charging for electric meters placed at new properties.

He said the value of meters was $300 to $400 each and the city has been “basically giving them away” to this point.

The commission approved the motion to include the cost of the meters as part of an installation fee from this point forward.

Thomas commented during his manager’s report that the Vernie Snow Aquatic Center - with the pool being re-branded as the K-Town Kove - continued to see increases in swimmers, with all equipment running properly and “excellent” participation from the employees.

He added that interim recreation manager Richard Greene was now ready to train a new person to take over the job and the city was currently actively seeking a person to fill the position. ( Ed. note: See advertisement for that position on Page 10 of this edition.)

The commission approved to pay Accuracy Underground LLC $196,240 for the water line that was moved on State Highway 33, for which the full amount will be reimbursed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

In other business, the commission discussed renewing the lease of storage space by Pioneer Telephone at the old National Guard Armory building located on North Sixth Street.

Hladik noted that Pioneer had invested several thousands of dollars in upgrading the facility in lighting and to control moisture inside the building.

The lease is currently $500 per month. The commission voted to table the decision after Thomas contacted representatives of the company to discuss Pioneer’s future plans regarding the building.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at City Hall at 5.30 p.m. Monday, July 8.