City Councilors appear to be on the same page on two lists of capital investment projects, but a third has councilors debating.

Three city sales tax questions will go before voters June 9. The contents of two questions — street and sewer improvements — appear near completion. The final wording and percentages will have to be fleshed out in March, City Clerk Pam Bush said.

Councilors on Monday trimmed a free-standing basketball pavilion and a miniature golf course from Question 3, which calls for a 0.0015 to 0.0019 percent increase.

Councilor Jim Ritchey said both the miniature golf course and the basketball pavilion shaved from the list were good projects. But in the economic downturn, he said he doesn’t see them as items that would pass muster with voting taxpayers.

Councilor David Jones said if more items could be eliminated from Question 3, the city wouldn’t need all the 0.0019 percent.

Jones and Councilor Shawn Raper said the 0.0031 percent on Question 2 might have to go to 0.0035 to ensure needed items will be covered. If that happens, the amount on Question 3 will be lowered to 0.0015 percent.

A Centennial Trail phase, slated to be paid for if voters approve Question 3, stayed in the mix. Jones said he’s concerned if the time is right and whether that item shouldn’t be taken to the City of Muskogee Foundation instead of the taxpayers.

Raper is concerned the trails “don’t go anywhere” and are on the outskirts of the city.

“It doesn’t really get you from one place to the other,” he said.

“You don’t necessarily have to be going somewhere,” Councilor Jackie Luckey said.

Raper, Jones and Ritchey were for leaving the project off the list, but were voted down.

After completing deletions from the list, councilors opened discussion for adding new items.

Luckey sent councilors a list of $402,000 in capital improvements for Muskogee Fairgrounds he wants added.

Luckey and Vice Mayor Robert Perkins are set on a hangar, now being leased by an aviation business at Hatbox Field, being made into a full-time basketball facility.

The tenant rents five hangars for $60,000 per year, which is used to help pay upkeep at Hatbox Field, city officials said.

Lucky asked Parks and Recreation Director Mark Wilkerson for information to be given to councilors by the Feb. 23 council meeting as to what it would cost to:

• Build a new hangar at Davis Field so the aviation business could relocate their planes to Davis Field.

• Cost of heating and air conditioning for a basketball facility inside a hangar at Hatbox, along with renovation expenses, adequate flooring and at least two basketball courts.

Wilkerson said Wednesday he will be prepared to submit several scenarios to councilors.

Muskogee High School girls basketball coach Doyle Rowland told councilors a new facility is needed because from 500 to 800 kids are packed into the old armory every Saturday to play basketball.

Rowland said there is little seating space at the armory.



In question

Voters will decide June 9 whether to approve three proposals seeking to raise city sales tax to fund a Capital Improvement Plan.

• Question 1 — A 0.0025 percent permanent sales tax dedicated to street improvements.

• Question 2 — A 0.0031 to 0.0035 percent sales tax for five years to pay for replacement of main sewer line from U.S. 69 along Coody Creek toward the wastewater treatment plant and flow monitoring on city sewer lines.

• Question 3 — From 0.0015 to 0.0019 percent sales tax for five years for capital improvement projects still under consideration.