The May Shawnee City Council meeting started off with an introduction of the Shawnee 2026 student/teacher delegation for the Sister Cities exchange trip to Nikaho, Japan. Those traveling on behalf of Shawnee are: Connie Walker (Chairman), Craig Walker, and Sandra Bradley (Teacher), as well as middle school students: Paisley Cloutier, NRC; Allen Gardner, NRC; Georgia Hatch, Grove; Brooks McMains, Grove; Grace Nealy, NRC; Lily States, Shawnee; Russell Tampus, Shawnee; Jordan Tkachenko, NRC; Nelvin Trimble, Grove; and Otavio Volpe, Grove.

During Citizens Participation, Will Snowden, director of REACT, gave a couple of updates. He started with noting that this is National EMS week. As one of three ambulance services in the state, REACT is approved to carry whole blood for transfusions in their ambulances. They have been doing so for about 11 months and have had at least seven cases where that potentially made the difference in those people living to see another day.

Cyndi Berger also spoke during public comments. She continued her request to separate the Chamber of Commerce and economic development. She also criticized the funds being moved from the community development block grant, citing an example of how those funds might have helped a citizen who was facing eviction due to water shut-off.

The Consent Agenda was approved without discussion.

The presentation of the Pet of the Month by Animal Control showcased seven-year-old Buttons whose owner had passed away, leaving her homeless.

A resolution of the City on approving the incurrence of indebtedness by the Oklahoma Baptist University Authority was approved. City Attorney Joe Vorndran assured the commission that this resolution in no way put the city accountable for the OBU debt.

Public hearings for the City of Shawnee Proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan and for the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 were opened, but no one spoke on either matter.

The renewal of a Contract for Economic Development Services Between the City of Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, and Shawnee Forward Inc. failed to pass. The new contract differences from last year added a few responsibilities to Shawnee Forward and also allowed for the Mayor to have a voting seat on their board. Commissioners Shuler, Odneal and Sehorn voted in favor; Stephens and Fichtner voted against; Richter abstained and Matthews was absent.

Cabin Site Lake Lot Lease on 16816 Magnino Road and 15001 Colson Lane were on the agenda to be revoked. Shuler made a motion to defer these to the next meeting and give time to exhaust other options. Odneal seconded her motion, but the other four voted no. Fichtner made a motion to move forward with revoking the leases, and that passed with a 4-2 vote (Shuler and Odneal voting no).

The Cabin Site Lake Lot Lease at 32005 Hornbeck Road was on the agenda but removed after noting the owner was taking care of the debt.

The Monthly Sales Tax Report was given with positive numbers.

Updates on a collaboration between Downtown Entrepreneurs and the Department of Tourism/Visit Shawnee was presented by Stacy Cramer Moore, Director of Tourism and her colleague Steven Koranda. They highlighted the Downtown event Main Street Shop and Stroll that was held on May 5.

Twenty-nine businesses participated in this spending event, and 61 shoppers turned in a completed passport card that required them to visit a minimum of 10 stores. They estimated that nearly 2000 guests were on Main Street that night with an average stay of one hour. Of those that waited until the 8 pm drawing, 736 business stops were recorded. A drawing for a basket containing $595 in downtown merchant gift cards was done to close out the night. The winner of the basket had just moved to Shawnee with his family and was reported to be in the shops the next day using some of those cards and spending more money at those establishments.

The event was very well-received and they have a plan in place to continue this first Tuesday of the month event through December (June 2 is next).

Commissioners Comments included well wishes for the graduating classes this month and a reminder that Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day and includes a Gold Star Family reception held at the Veterans Educational Museum on Broadway at 10 am. Odneal also encouraged citizens to visit the newly-revamped Salvation Army Thrift store.

During the Airport Authority Meeting that transpired after commissioner comments and before their executive session, all measures were approved including:

• A resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept grant offers from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for engineering design services in support of the strengthening of Runway 17/35 and Taxiway Systems project at the Shawnee Regional Airport (all funded without the City’s assistance).

•An Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) for design services to support capital improvements to the runway and taxiway system at the Shawnee Regional Airport.

•The sale of certain Shawnee Airport Authority real property to the Troy and Dollie Smith Shawnee Family YMCA contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This includes all the ball fields and the demolition of the DMV building that was damaged during the tornado.

•Proposals with H.W.

Lochner, Inc. for Engineering Design Services in support of a new terminal building at the Shawnee Regional Airport; to provide Engineering Design Services in support of repairs to Hangar #14; repairs to Hangar #15; and repairs to high- mast lights on the Aircraft Parking and Fuel Services Ramp.

• A resolution declaring certain items of personal property surplus and no longer needed for Shawnee Airport Authority purposes; describing said items; and authorizing disposal at the Shawnee Airport Authority’s discretion (after many attempts were made to contact the owners of the two abandoned aircrafts).

An executive session to discuss confidential communications between a public body and its attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim, or action, lasted just over two hours and no action was taken during that time.

The meeting adjourned just before 9:30 pm. The next regular meeting of the Shawnee City Commission will be held on June 15, 2026 at 6 pm.