MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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October 24, 2009

THE PEOPLE SPEAK: Muskogee compares favorably to Stillwater

I live in Stillwater. When our city manager proposed ridiculous increases in water rates, I got involved and have been trying to figure out what is going on.

It seems he wants to oversee a $120 million construction project for a new pipeline from Kaw Lake, and I’m not convinced that we need it.

Let’s compare Muskogee to Stillwater. You have about 40,000 citizens while Stillwater has 47,000. You have city revenues of $51 million per year while Stillwater has about $100 million. Stillwater has all utilities, sales taxes and property taxes priced above the national norm. In addition, Stillwater has its own electric company, which is quite profitable for the city.

As I read it, Muskogee has $24.7 million in long-term debt as compared to Stillwater’s $42 million and still counting.

Yet, over all the years of Stillwater’s financial advantage, Muskogee compares well in total assets at about $250 million for each city.

How can that be, you might ask?

It is because you have a more conservative government, better management, with less employee count. You have only two lawyers and a legal secretary, while we have 4.5 lawyers apparently to protect the city manager from the citizens and the city employee unions.

Stillwater has 12 city employees per 1,000 citizens while the national average is 7.5 per 1,000 citizens.

I think the key to your success is your governing system of four wards with two council members assigned per ward. You have eight council members with the mayor casting the ninth vote to better watch the city treasures.

Stillwater only has four with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote. Either your city manager has a less aggressive attitude toward spending or your council maintains better control over the money.

Dennis Gronquist

Stillwater

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