Poteau council discusses change

By CRAIG HALL
POTEAU—Poteau’s City Council held a discussion Monday evening during their meeting concerning possible changes for the form of government.

The council discussed various forms of government in the meeting and Mayor Jeff Shockley outlined the different types available if the city wanted to change.

This is a topic that comes up fairly often, according to Shockley.

“It comes up about every four years,” the Poteau mayor said. “The council wanted to talk about it.”

He added the discussion usually comes up when several council spots are up for election.

The three different types of government are the kind Poteau currently has, with the mayor, police chief and head of the street department up for election, a city manager form of government and one featuring a strong mayor.

Discussion centered on the pros and cons of each form of government. If the city went to a “strong mayor” form of government, there would be four less council positions.

The residents currently elect most of the city government. That would be different if there was a change.

“My personal feeling is the people of Poteau have done an excellent job in electing the officials,” Shockley said.

If the government was changed, the police chief and head of the water department would be appointed.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “Our type of government seems to do well.”

If there was a city manager, Shockley said that position would only have to please three council members instead of the residents.”

The cost of changing would also hurt Poteau’s already cut manager. Shockley said a city manager would probably cost over $90,000 and a police chief would receive a salary over $70,000.

He added Poteau has budgeted $80,000 less in the general fund than it did two years ago with street repairs taking a major hit.