State of The Town of Forest Park Address from Mayor George H. Smith

Greetings Forest Park residents and visitors to the Forest Park website!  

First of all, greetings to all of the people in attendance, those residents online, the chairs that came to witness the June Trustee Board meeting, and to hear the State of the Town of Forest Park address.  I am George H. Smith, and I serve as the Mayor of the Town of Forest Park.

Before I get into the accomplishments made during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, I want to present the Board of Trustees, followed by other elected officials, department heads and the staff of Forest Park. As I go through my presentation, I will identify the accomplishments they have contributed to Forest Parks growth:

  1. Steve Miller – Ward 1 trustee, and Public Works Liaison
  2. Darlene Davis – Ward 2 trustee, vice mayor, web assistant, and General Administration liaison
  3. William Jones – Ward 4 trustee, Budget committee chair, ACOG representative, writer of the Home Sharing Ordinances
  4. Rashanna Baker – Ward 5 trustee, Recycling champion for the town, Fire Department Liaison as well as mother to newborn daughter.
  5. Minnie Vickers – Town Clerk (handling permits, licenses, property liens, filing documents to the state, affixing the seal, Chair of 65th Town Anniversary, and lots of other stuff.
  6. Larry Epps – Town Treasurer, handling deposits, bank records, receiving tax payments from the state and other monetary stuff.
  7. Alma Motte – Court Clerk, supervisor over General Administration
  8. Shawn Mitchell – Lead Building Maintenance over Public Works
  9. Chief Chuck Blair -Emergency Manager (aka Fire Chief)
  10. Chief Dwayne Doolittle – Police Chief
  11. Attorney Nkem House – who handles our municipal court and other legal matters
  12. Attorney Mark Myles – who handles our legislative issues, code of ordinances and other legal matters. 
  1. ADDITIONAL LEGAL COUNSEL -JULY

Due to the annexation of businesses into Forest Park, we have been encountering new legal challenges that require legal guidance. In July, the board approved a contract with Mark Myles as an additional town attorney. Atty. Myles has been instrumental in keeping us current with state legislation and its impact on municipalities. He has been charged with keeping our Code of Ordinances current.

  1. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS – JULY

The Board of Adjustments (BoA) for the Town of Forest Park is a five-member appeals board comprised of local volunteer residents. Three of the five seats were up for reappointment.  Below are the members and their current status:

  •  Atty Kwame Mumina (reappointed) – chairman, Deanna Williams – secretary, Wesley Crump - member, Chris Fly- new member, Aaron Marshall- new member, John Hayes (reappointed) – alternate member

The duties of the BoA are as follows:

  • Deciding Appeals: Boards of Adjustment hear appeals when an individual believes a zoning official has made an incorrect decision or has erred in enforcing zoning regulations.
  • Interpreting Zoning Ordinances: They clarify ambiguous or unclear

provisions within the zoning ordinance

  • Granting Variances: Boards can authorize variances, which allow     

landowners to deviate from zoning regulations in specific cases, often

due to hardship or unique circumstances.

  • Hearing Special Exceptions: They may also consider applications for

special exceptions, which allow uses that are permitted under certain

conditions but not generally allowed in a specific zoning district.

During this fiscal year, the board heard one case that was appealed to Oklahoma County District court. That case involved building four small houses on Coltrane Place. The BoA rejected the company’s proposal due to the project wouldn’t fit into the scheme of the existing neighborhood.

 3. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, LIGHTING UPGRADE - JULY

We experienced unreliable lighting in the courtroom and requested Officer Doolittle investigate. Results were retrofitting thirteen (13) gas light fixtures with cost-effective LED lighting and nine (9) light switches in the courtroom at a cost of $1,350.00, due to safety concerns. The lighting in the courtroom had become unreliable and the board was concerned with the safety of residents and individuals attending meetings or court proceedings in the courtroom.

  4. RECYCLING PROGRAM KICKOFF - AUGUST

Trustee Rashanna Baker was the leader on the recycling program. She provided sound ecological and environmental reasons for initiating this program. On April 2, 2024, Forest Park residents approved by a slim majority, proposition #1, the recycling program provided by Waste Management. Contract requires for all residents to participate in the program.

  1. SIXTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - SEPTEMBER

On September 13-15, 2024, the town celebrated its 65th anniversary with a weekend of events. The celebration started out with a Gala at the Twins Hills Golf and Country Club. Dining on several types of chicken, delicious vegetables and fancy desserts, the residents were treated to a brief program detailing the history of Forest Park – delivered by Carmen McBride and Mark Hicks - introduced to employees, elected officials, Planning and Zoning Commissioners, Board of Adjustment and Economic Development Council members, and danced to the smooth and rhythmic sounds of D.J. Byron Richmond.

Saturday began with a parade starting at N.E. 36th & Bryant, ending in the parking lot of Paradise Baptist Church, where Rev. Wilbert Tripplett is the pastor. At the church pavilion, The Neighborhood Association treated residents to hotdogs, chips, and cool drinks. Music, line dancing and other games and activities were provided.

Sunday, residents worshipped with Northeast Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Michael McDaniel. After worship services, The Forest Park Neighborhood Association sponsored a home and garden tour, where six (6) residents opened their homes for display and tour. The tour culminated the 65th anniversary weekend.

Minnie Vickers-Johnson, committee chairman, First Lady Angela Smith – decorations, Carmen McBride, and Mark Hicks – Town history, Officer Dwayne Doolittle – Parade, Sabrina Plog, Marianne Yarbrough, Chief Thomas Gipson, and Mayor George H. Smith committee members, comprised the steering committee.

2. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT – SEPTEMBER

Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Doolittle applied for and received a $2,000 80/20 matching grant in order to purchase traffic barriers for traffic control for the Town of Forest Park. The maximum allotment of this grant is $2,000. This grant was awarded by OMAG’s (Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group) Public Works Safety Equipment (PWSE) Grant.

3. PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL – SEPTEMBER

The Trustee board approved the latest revision, to be effective January 1, 2025. Two holidays which affect customer service added previously were codified - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (third Monday in January) and Juneteenth Day (June 19th,, if any holiday falls on a Saturday the office will be closed on Friday, if any holiday falls on a Sunday the office will be closed on Monday). 

4. NEW VERSION OF WEBSITE PLATFORM -OCTOBER

Website Assistant Darlene Davis, who also serves as our Vice Mayor, in collaboration with GovOffice, rolled out the latest board approved website platform. The new platform will be online in the first part of April. The latest version is on the Catilis Website Platform at a cost of $3,995.00 for the first year.

5. BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN – OCTOBER

Trustee William Jones was selected to head the budget committee. Trustee Jones will be collaborating with Treasurer Larry Epps and Tyara Nash-Mitchell to provide the full array of our QuickBooks accounting software in order to give the board, and department heads the most current financial status.

6. NO SOLICITATION SIGNS – OCTOBER

The Board approved the purchase of self-adhesive “NO SOLICITATION SIGNS” for residents to post on their front doors at the cost of $1 each. With spring and summer around the corner, this might be a handy thing to have to ward off unwanted solicitors. The Forest Park police will still be vigilant about escorting unwanted solicitors out of town. 

7. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, STREET LIGHTING ADDITIONS - OCTOBER

Trustees Steve Miller and William Jones led a project to install 25 LED streetlights @ $9.00 each for a total of $225 per month/$2,700 annually. The first locations will depend on pole availability. This first phase of lighting will be on N.E. 36th from Bryant to Bartell, Coltrane from N.E. 36th to N.E. 50th, approximately.   The lights will be installed sometime in the March/April 2025 timeframe.

We are planning to illuminate N.E. 30th street and residential streets in the next phases of the street lighting project. Thirty-sixth (36th) and Coltrane streets were tackled first due to existing poles. The cost of planting and wiring poles for electricity is a higher cost factor which has to be budgeted.

8. REZONING APPLICATION PROCESS – OCTOBER

Once Forest Park started expanding our geographic footprint to include businesses, we had to be able to zone and rezone properties, hear variances of property, oil and gas and other land issues.

A committee comprised of Minnie Vickers-Johnson, Darlene Davis, Dennis French, Mark Myles, Michael Parks, and George H. Smith reviewed Oklahoma City’s, Harrah’s, and Owasso’s rezoning process to determine which format was the most user friendly, and easiest to process. The City of Harrah process and form won the committee’s approval. Mayor George Smith talked with Mayor Danny Trent, who was flattered that we chose his process. Harrah’s process was developed by a person who had a degree in community development/planning and the process has worked well for them.

9. PERSONNEL CHANGES -DECEMBER

December brought about major personnel changes in the General Administration, Police, and Public Works departments.

a. Resignations:

  -Tyara Nash-Richmond resigned as Town Administrator effective December 17, 2024

b. Retirements:

  - Thomas Gipson, Police Chief retired effective December 31, 2024

c. Promotions:

 - Alma Motte, deputy court clerk, promoted to court clerk                             

 - Enetrice Smiley, deputy court clerk, promoted to lead deputy court clerk

 - Dwayne Doolittle, Public Works Supt promoted to Interim Police Chief

- Shawn Mitchell, Building Maintenance, promoted to Lead Building maintenance

Contractors:

- Tyara Nash-Richmond hired to serve as Contract Account Clerk

10. EQUIPPED VEHICLES WITH GPS – JANUARY

Through the budgetary process, the town was able to purchase and equip six patrol cars and one public works vehicle with GPS at a cost of $3,135. Vehicles are able to be tracked in real time from a computer. 

11. CHIEF BLAIR RECEIVES ACOG GRANT FOR $70,000 – FEBRUARY

The board recently accepted and approved the purchase of a $70,000 Command Vehicle that was awarded to the Emergency Management Dept. (Fire Department) by way of successful efforts by Chief Chuck Blair. Ordering and delivery will probably be in the third or fourth quarter of the calendar year.

 12. REPLACE THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE BREAKROOM – FEBRUARY

After successfully submitting three bids, the Public Works Department requested and received permission to purchase a new LG Refrigerator with ice maker for the breakroom.  Installation was provided by Office Oliver Murray and Trustee Steve Miller.

 13. PORTRAIT OF TOWNHALL BUILDING NAMING – FEBRUARY

Mayor George H. Smith motioned and seconded by Trustee Jones to hang a portrait of the person whom the building was named for – Mr. John H. Yarbrough.  Mayor Smith will work with Carmen McBride, daughter of the honoree, for a picture and suitable language to be imprinted on a plaque detailing the honoree’s contributions to the forward movement of Forest Park.

 14. FULFILLS RESPONSIBILITY OF ANNUAL AUDITS - APRIL

The board approved a payout of over $36,000 in fees to auditor Bob Dillon for fiscal years ’20-’21, ’21-’22, ’22-’23, and ’23-’24. The previous leadership had dismissed the auditor and because we hadn’t met our state mandate to have an audit every year, we had been red flagged by the state auditor’s office. 

When you are red flagged for lack of compliance with annual auditing, the state withholds your Alcohol, Tobacco tax receipts, which for us amount to over $1,500/year.

The trustee board will hear a read out of all the audits mentioned above in a special meeting scheduled for April 22, 2025 @6:30pm. 

15. VOTING ON ELECTED OFFICIALS – APRIL

On April 1, the residents of Forest Park went to the polls to cast their votes for Ward 2, Ward 4 and Town Treasurer.  Ward 2 represented by Darlene Davis ran unopposed, and Town Treasurer represented by Larry Epps ran unopposed.  Ward 4 incumbent Williams Jones was re-elected for another 4-year term.

In addition to their duties as trustees representing the people in their respective wards, Trustee Jones also serves as chairman of the Budget Committee as well as representing Forest Park at ACOG (Association of Central Oklahoma Government) meetings. 

 In addition to her duties as Vice-Mayor, Trustee Davis serves as Web-Assistant, keeping our website accurate, current and relevant. 

16. MAYOR AND VICE-MAYOR RE-ELECTED TO TWO (2) YEAR TERMS – APRIL

Trustees George H. Smith and Darlene Davis were re-elected to the offices of Mayor and Vice-Mayor respectively in the April 2025 Trustee Board meeting.  As pre state statute the offices of mayor and vice-mayor serve two-year terms.  I would like to publicly thank the board for putting their trust in us to continue the forward trajectory the board has worked diligently to achieve.

 17. ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE PHONES FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS – APRIL

The board recently signed a contract with T-Mobile to purchase three (3) business use only I-phones for two department heads and the town clerk for $99.72 a month, saving approximately $50/month, $600/year.

 18. STREET LIGHTING PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 – APRIL

The board approved to allocate an additional $3,750.00 per year in increased street lighting. This equals thirty-five (35) new streetlights at the cost of $8.88 per light, or $310.80 per month.

 19. NEW HIRES PASS PROBATIONARY PERIOD – APRIL

After careful evaluation, the following personnel passed their probationary period and were placed on permanent status:

Alma Motte- Court Clerk

Shawn Mitchell – Lead Public Works Maintenance

Dwayne Doolittle - Police Chief* (became effective in May)

Enetrice Smiley – Lead Deputy Court Clerk

20. CONTINUING EDUCATION – APRIL

In an effort to keep and retain top notch employees and board members, the board allocated the following funds:

  • $1,500 – two court clerks to Attend Oklahoma Municipal Court Clerks Association training in Stillwater, Okla, June 4-6, 2025
  • $280 – 2 Board of Adjustment commissioners and 1 Planning and Zoning Commissioner to attend the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) for Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commissioners training.

 21. POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING – JAN – MAY

In an effort to keep, train and retain good people, Chief Doolittle has enrolled in and provided the following training for his department:

a)      Civil forfeiture

b)     De-escalation & Evidence Collection

c)      Crime Scene

d)     Incident Command for Mass Casualty Incidences

e)      Leadership Training & Development

f)        LELA (Law Enforcement Liability Assessment)

g)      SFST (Standard Field Sobriety Testing)

h)      Taser Re-certification

i)        Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

j)        Basic Instructor Development (BID)

k)      Firearm Qualification

l)        Stop Stick Development

m)   Report Writing

n)      Managing Field Training Operations (FTO) program

 22. HIRED FOUR NEW PARTTIME AND ONE RESERVE OFFICER -MARCH

In order to fill all the available police force shifts, the Trustee Board approved to hire additional policemen. The following people were recruited to serve on the interview panel:

  • Bill Leeper, Ward 3 resident
  • Willard page, Retired OKC Ass’t Police Chief and Ward 3 resident
  • Tyara Nash-Richmond – Former Forest Park Police chief
  • Minnie Vickers-Johnson – Town Clerk
  • Mayor George H. Smith

After a lengthy and rigorous interview session, the panel, being convened on separate occasions, recommended the following names for the Trustee Boards consideration:

  1. Chauncey Dumas, Amy Nguyen, Jeremy Buckner were hired as parttime police officers
  2. Carlos McArthur was hired as a reserve officer
  3. Randy Hall was hired as court bailiff
  4. Lenon Williams was hired as parttime police officer

 23. MAYOR AND VICE-MAYOR ATTEND ANNUAL MCO CONVENTION – JUNE

The Mayor and Vice-Mayor attended the annual MCO (Mayor’s Conference of Oklahoma) conferences in February and June. 

 The February conference was hosted at the Embassy Suites in the Oklahoma City Medical Center and State Capital State Representative chambers. OML chooses priority issues that directly affect the future well-being of Oklahoma’s cities and towns, and those who live in them. The issues are ratified by the OML Membership during the Business Meeting at the OML Annual Conference. The League then collaborates with Legislators to submit the ideas as legislation and works to usher them through the Legislative process.  Your mayor and vice-mayor were very vocal during the conference making meaningful adjustments, modifications to proposed legislation.

 The June conference was hosted by Midwest City and hosted at The Reed Center.  A lot of valuable information was presented including financial investment opportunities, how state laws can impact municipalities, a tour of Midwest City – which included the Glass company on 23rd, the meat packing company on 36th , the new Fire fighters training center off S.E. 15th behind the Public Works Department (along with a demonstration on putting out a fire), a new sports park on Reno, and more.

 

 

 

Mayor George H. Smith

State of the Town of Forest Park Opening Remarks State of the Town of Forest Park Opening Remarks
State of the Town of Forest Park - Part 2 State of the Town of Forest Park - Part 2