Midwest City hosting town halls on upcoming special election
Special meetings scheduled for Thursday, April 15 and Monday, April 26 at 6 p.m.
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
The Midwest City Council will host two town hall meetings this month to discuss an upcoming special election.
The special meetings are scheduled for Thursday, April 15 and Monday, April 26. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 100 N. Midwest Blvd.
City officials will provide information about the upcoming special election on May 11. The election includes a $5.7 million bond proposal for a police and fire training center, and proposed changes to the city’s charter.
The city is seeking to build the public safety facility on property near the Public Works Department on SE 15th St. Under the proposal, the bonds would be paid off within 25 years with an interest rate not to exceed 10%.
This will be the second go around for the public safety building.
Voters approved plans for a police and fire training facility as part of a general obligation bond issue that passed in 2018.
Two years later, the city scrapped the project after officials learned that the location was incorrectly stated on a bond election ballot. The city planned to build the police and fire training facility in the 9500 block of SE 15thSt., in the east end of what is now the Fred Myers Baseball Complex. City staff determined that the correct address for that site is the 9700 block of SE 15th Street.
The proposed facility consists of a building with classroom space and a four-story burn building/tactical training facility to be shared by police and firefighters. The firefighters would use the facility to conduct controlled burn exercises and regular training. Police can use the building for regular technical training including SWAT, hostage and active shooter drills.
The proposed charter amendments focus on municipal elections, code of conduct for city officials, proclamations of a state of emergency, and updated language in the charter.
The city charter is a document that defines the organization, powers, functions and essential procedures of the city government. Changes to the city charter must be approved by city voters.
Officials say the changes are needed to improve accountability of elected and appointed city officials and efficiency of municipal government.
The bond election will be listed as Proposition 1 on the May 11 special election ballot. The ballot will also include 14 charter amendments that will be listed as Propositions 2-15.
