City Council to consider audit proposal prompted by petition

Cathy Spaulding, Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
·2 min read

Jul. 6—A petition seeking a state audit helped prompt the Muskogee City Council to consider a resolution seeking the audit, Ward 3 Councilor Melody Cranford said.

The council is to vote on seeking the audit at a special called meeting, 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

The resolution asks the Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector's office to conduct the audit on four areas:

— Determine if the properties in the "Three Corners Development" of U.S 62 and U.S. 69 were obtained properly, and if any financing related to them was executed and paid properly.

— Determine if anyone with conflicts of interest received sales commission with respect to the "Project Sunshine" development plan.

— Determine if the contracting with the company for developing properties along Shawnee Corridor was done properly/prudently, and if any financing related to it was executed and paid properly.

— Determine if any conflicts of interest existed in the distribution of the proceeds of the Downtown Revitalization Multi-Grant Program.

Mayor Patrick Cale said at a Wednesday news conference that he and Cranford cosponsored the resolution seeking the audit.

Cale said many residents have been seeking a "full city audit" for about a year, but were not specific in what they sought.

At a March Public Works Committee meeting, then-committee member Traci McGee proposed that the city seek a forensic audit. No action was taken.

Earlier this week, residents began circulating a petition asking the state to "audit all books and records of the City of Muskogee and its pertinent trust authorities for the period of January 2014 — June 2024."

The petition lists the same objectives as the council resolution.

Mark Hughes, a petition supporter, said it was drawn up as a "collaborative effort of several people."

Cranford, who had expressed support for an audit when she ran for the council, said city officials "had never really heard exactly what the citizens were asking for."

"When they gave me these specifications, I was able to sit with council members and say 'this is what they are asking,'" Cranford said. "It was easier for me to get people on board with me. I wanted to make sure I did those things before I brought it back (to the council) because I didn't want it to die again. Their petition sped up the process."

Cale said at the news conference it would cost $40,000 to $80,000 to seek an audit of the four items.

"Now that we have in our hands what we want these citizens to look at, I am happy to help them," he said. "I think it is totally appropriate to look into these matters."