MINUTES

LAWTON CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING

JANUARY 5, 2005  - 6:00 P.M.

WAYNE GILLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER

Mayor John P. Purcell, Jr.            Also Present:

Presiding            Larry Mitchell, City Manager

                John Vincent, City Attorney

                Brenda Smith, Acting City Clerk

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor John P. Purcell, Jr.  Notice of meeting and agenda were posted on the City Hall notice board as required by law.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:    Bill Shoemate, Ward One

        Rex Givens, Ward Two

        Robert Shanklin, Ward Five

        Stanley Haywood, Ward Seven

        Randy Warren, Ward Eight

ABSENT:    Glenn Devine, Ward Three

        Amy Ewing-Holmstrom, Ward Four

        Jeffrey Patton, Ward Six

        

1.    Consider approving a resolution to repeal Resolution No. 04-154 which called for the change of the name of the City of Lawton to the City of Lawton-Fort Sill and Resolution No. 04-155 which set the date for the municipal election on whether or not the City of Lawton should change its name. Exhibits: Resolution No. 05-01.

Mayor Purcell said when Council voted on this, it was to end the confusion that had existed for a few years with multiple names being used He said some citizens thought the City’ s name had been officially changed; many other names had been changed officially, but not the City name itself. Mayor Purcell said since an election was about to take place anyway, it seemed an appropriate time to ask voters to settle the question of an official name change.

Mayor Purcell complimented certain news coverage explaining that it was not his idea to officially change the City’ s name, but rather to give the voters the opportunity to make that decision.  He said since that time, he had received concerns that a negative aspect could appear should there be an overwhelming vote of no, which there most likely would have been. He said the state and national media could portray such a vote as opposition to Fort Sill or to the troops, and that would not be the case. Mayor Purcell stressed the positive relationship that exists between Lawton and Fort Sill and said that would remain the case. He said he did not think it was worth taking a chance that the perception of the city could be something like that and that was why he had called a news conference and the reason for tonight’ s meeting. He said the resolution being considered tonight required five votes for passage, and that he would administratively begin to make changes if it is approved.

Shanklin said he did not want the Mayor to apologize for any of these action, that he did not consider it in error and that he lives in Lawton-Fort Sill.

Shoemate said he voted no initially because Lawton has a proud history and much of it was lost when the downtown area was demolished. He said Fort Sill has a proud history and we are proud to work together. Shoemate said it is nothing negative about Fort Sill, it is part of Lawton and we want to keep it that way but that he wanted to keep it separate because of the history each can be proud of.

Haywood reviewed the 2000 census where the annexation of Fort Sill increased Lawton’ s population and said he would always include Fort Sill. Mayor Purcell said the annexation was done to try to reach a population of 100,000, and the airport was renamed and a combination of things took place so confusion began on the name.

Warren said it started innocently and there will never be a problem about how we feel about Fort Sill, although it may not be viewed the same at the state or federal level as it would be here.

VOTE ON MOTION: AYE: Warren, Shoemate, Givens, Shanklin, Haywood. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

 

There being no further business to consider, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. upon motion, second and roll call vote.