State of the City
City provided a ton of essential services in 2024
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
The City of Stilwell provides a variety of services to the citizens and community throughout the year, from trash pick-up to beautiful parks to enjoy. Many services are essential. In 2024 the City Sanitation Department picked up 3,495.14 tons of trash or if it’s easier to imagine, 6,990,280 pounds. In December alone, the total weight for trash picked up was 316.11 tons or 532,220 pounds, reported Director of Municipal Works Dale Dandridge.
Every month, department heads provide an end of the month report to the City Council. Although the fiscal year runs from July to the following June, the beginning of the year is a good time to look back over the preceding year to count accomplishments.
Mayor Jean Ann Wright said she values all city employees.
“We have exceptional employees in every department, and department heads who lead by example with hard work and doing their best to keep the city running smoothly, and keeping it safe and beautiful,” said Wright.
Cherokee Nation ribbon cutting at the Cherokee Senior Nutrition Center in January. It’s the 15th Cherokee Nation Senior Nutrition site opened. It is now open Tuesday and Thursday for lunch at noon for Adair County senior citizens.
A second ribbon cutting with leaders, from left, are: Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Mayor Jean Ann Wright, Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, Tribal Councilor District 7 Joshua Sam and Tribal Council District 8 Codey Poindexter.
photo: Renee Fite
In December 2024 the Street and Sanitation Department continued trimming trees, dug footings for a new Press Box at Carson Park and began leaf removal from neighborhoods. Work on Safe Routes sidewalk project continues and dirt work on the pond at the Carson Park golf course is moving again.
Keeping the city growing in a positive direction with clean up, removing derelict buildings, and the Animal Shelter operational, Director of Community Development Shawn Noel said progress on the Press Box continues, footings and plumbing are in. The plan is for it to be completed in the spring.
“Code Enforcement created 36 new cases in December. There is one administrative hearing set, one abatement of an uninhabitable trailer is underway, one dilapidated house was taken down, and three houses are being rebuilt as a result of code violation notices,” Noel said.
Tiny Tots Daycare has officially opened.
“Schwann’s replaced its air handing units without incident,” he said.
Regarding Animal Control, Noel said 19 new cases were received in December, including 12 animals at large, three deceased animals, and three trapped animals. Three new dog licenses were issued in December.
Total numbers for 2024 indicate a productive year for the city: 141 new code enforcement cases, 171 animal licenses issued, 313 new animal cases, 459 permits issued this past year, 51 building, 29 burn, 26 trade, 71 special events, 32 temporary vendors and 247 yard sale permits.
Always essential, the Stilwell Volunteer Fire Department participated or assisted in 27 runs from December 1 - 31. It had four house fires firefighters assisted with in the county; three grass fires in the city, and assisted with two in the county; two motor vehicle accidents in the city and assisted with eight in the county. The firefighters assisted the police department in the county with traffic control one time, provided five lift assists with EMS in the city, worked one dumpster fire, and one general rescue in the county.
The fire department accepts applications from those interested in volunteering, training and giving back to the community. Currently the city is accepting applications for a new full-time Fire Chief. Applications are available at City Hall with a full job description. Completed applications are turned in to Human Resources at City Hall.
Also essential for public safety, the Stilwell Police Department reported 58 incidents filed in December 2024. Offenses included: one arson, one aggravated assault, two burglary, four driving under the influence, 12 drunkenness, five drugs/narcotic violations, 13 traffic violations, and two trespassing cases.
The PD had 1,104 radio logs including: 157 traffic stops, 29 emergency 911 calls, 82 EMS call assists, 10 domestic call outs, 43 general police call outs, three complaints of noise and 161 in-service calls.
They brought in $16,735.89 in fines.
For the year of 2024, the police department filed 835 incident reports and a grand total of 1,287 including: 69 simple assaults and 23 aggravated assaults, 19 burglary, 33 driving under the influence, 61 drugs/narcotic violations, 182 drunkenness, 77 shoplifting, three runaways, two rapes, 28 threats or intimidation, 102 traffic violations, and 19 weapons law violations.
There was a total of 14,520 radio logs including: 61 phone calls into dispatch, 68 vehicles in roadway, and 48 people coming into the police department for assistance.
The city is growing, making improvements like more sidewalks downtown, upgrades to water and wastewater facilities, and developing a new position for a full-time fire chief, said Wright.
“It is a time of growth and opportunity in Stilwell,” Wright said. “We have even more plans for downtown and Stilwell in 2025.”
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City of Stilwell, Oklahoma
Address: 20 S. 1st St., Stilwell, OK 74960
Phone:
918-696-7143
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