The Guthrie City Council approved a resolution to formally censured Ward 1 Councilwoman Menecca Gibbs over a statement she made concerning whether a tort claim was discussed during a City Council executive session.
The Council voted 5-2 in favor of censure with Gibbs and Ward 3 Councilman Grant Aguirre abstaining.
The Council approved the resolution formally censuring Gibbs for material misrepresentation concerning a tort claim filed against the City by Scotty Smith.
According to the resolution, Smith filed a tort claim against the City of Guthrie on Oct. 6, 2025.
The resolution states that Gibbs communicated with Smith through Facebook Messenger on Aug. 12, 2026, and told him, “The conversation about the Tort Claim happened during Executive Session.”
The resolution says the City Council reviewed applicable agendas, minutes, and other official records and determined that Smith’s tort claim was never listed on a City Council agenda for consideration in executive session and states the council did not consider, discuss, or deliberate Smith’s tort claim during an executive session.
The resolution states that Gibbs’ statement attributed participation in an alleged executive session discussion to other council members and City employees who, accord- ing to the resolution, did not participate in such a discussion.
The resolution serves as an official correction of the public record, stating that Smith’s Oct. 6, 2025, tort claim was not discussed or deliberated upon during a City Council executive session. It also formally expresses the council’s institutional disapproval of Gibbs’ conduct.
Gibbs read a prepared statement on her actions.
“While I receive a few emails a month from different concerned citizens, I frequently receive continued questions from a certain citizen who has been very outspoken about their opinions about city employees, the clerk council on social media, et cetera. While I’m not a veteran member up here, these comments and statements are hard to read and not defend,” she said. “Against my better and informed judgment by the city attorney not to engage in this particular citizen, that day I was juggling my daily life, I thought I could quickly answer the question as best I could and recollect and my recollection be with me on that day. But while engaging in conversation with the citizen, my memory escaped me. I should have consulted my paperwork, my emails, and my notes beforehand. I made a statement that a tort issue had been discussed during the executive session and I was so even sure that by memory I instructed the citizen to go out and find the appropriate agenda for his records. But after reviewing my agendas later that evening and records to back up my own memory with no avail, it was already too late.”
Gibbs continued, “I couldn’t retract it and remedy my comment at all. The citizen had already taken it straight to social media, the attorney general’s office, OMAG, city council members, the mayor, city attorney and manager to insinuate intentional wrongdoing on myself and members of this council because I stated it was an executive session. I assure you none of that is true. I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone or be malicious in any way. I made a very human mistake in my memory recollection. I do apologize for my relapse in my memory and for making a statement. It is my fault that I did and I should not have. I’ve learned from this mistake and assure everyone up here, I’m here to serve the community in my best capacity.”
In other matters, the Council approved the funding agreement between the City of Guthrie and the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority for an award of up to $750,000 through the Oklahoma Business Expansion Incentive Program Public-Private Partner Development Infrastructure (P3) Pool for the Fire & EMS Station No. 2 project and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement.
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has determined that the City’s Fire Station No. 2 project will provide a positive net economic benefit to the State and has approved the City for an award of up to $750,000.
The award is funded through the capture of eligible employees withholding taxes associated with participating partner entities and will be administered by ODFA.
The current participating entities are Mead Lumber (Guthrie’s Ace Hardware/OHC Supply) at 100% and Guthrie Public Schools at 50%, with the City intending to submit additional participating entities. Award payments will be made quarterly, subject to available funds, beginning on or about Jan.15, 2027, through October 15, 2029, or until the award is fully paid.
The Council tabled renewal of a contract between the City of Guthrie and Bobby Cain to lease the RodeoArena grounds for a term of one year until proof of insurance is provided.
The Council confirmed the mayor’s nomination to appoint Joe Chappell to the Guthrie Parks and Urban Forestry Board with a term that will expire June 1, 2028 ,and approved the purchase of a Ditch Witch HX30G gas vacuum excavation system with trailer from Ditch Witch of Oklahoma in an amount not to exceed $64,000 for use by the Line Maintenance Department in utility repair operations.