Mayor Adam Ropp signs a proclamation recognizing Oct. 18-24, 2026, as National Friends of Libraries Week during a Guthrie City Council meeting. The proclamation honors the Friends of the Guthrie Public Library for their fundraising, volunteer service and continued support of library programs and services.
Guthrie's City Council on Tuesday approved acceptance of several grants totaling over $2.3 million for the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport and the Guthrie Fire and Police Departments.
“I want to take just a moment to congratulate the staff and applaud them because you just approved a little over $2.3 million in state and federal funding that we're bringing in that, whether it had a match, the highest match here that we had was 10%, which equated to $37,000,” City Manager Eddie Faulkner said. “That's astronomical.
“We work together very well as a team. We've done a great job building those relationships and expanding our resources to turn every dollar into 10 here in Guthrie and not every community enjoys that. That is something that is huge. So, thank you, staff. You've done a fantastic job moving the city forward and being proactive in doing so.”
The Council approved an Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics grant of $465,307.70 for reimbursement of costs associated with designing and constructing the airport terminal and terminal apron. Guthrie and Edmond will split the local share, with Guthrie contributing $232,653.85.
The Council also approved a $135,755.63 Department of the Interior Office of Wildland Fire grant to support construction of two fire apparatus for the Guthrie Fire Department.
Fire Chief Dane Lausen said the non-match grant will fund a 3,000-gallon tanker using a cab and chassis donated by Dolese for Station 2 and a 1,500-gallon heavy brush tanker, Brush Tanker 5, to support wildland and grass fire operations.
The Council approved a $350,000 Rural Health Transformation Challenge: Community Paramedicine Vehicles Initiative grant to purchase a new ambulance for Guthrie Fire & EMS.
Lausen said the grant requires no match, but the city will pay additional costs to outfit the ambulance with a power-load system and stretcher.
The Council approved an additional $500,000 Office of Emergency Management ARPA grant for the Public Safety Training Facility at Meridian Technology Center South Campus.
Police Chief Don Sweger said the funding will go toward installing a fire training tower. The reimbursement grant requires a $500,000 city match, budgeted for fiscal year 2027.
The Council also approved a $498,523 Office of Victims of Crime Fiscal Year 2026 Services for Victims of Crime Program grant through the Office of Justice Programs.
The grant will allow the police department to restore a second victim advocate position, purchase a vehicle and provide emergency rooms and supplies to victims. No city match is required.
In other matters, the Council renewed the one-year contract with Bobby Cain to lease the Rodeo Arena grounds, accepted water, sewer and paving improvements and public rightsof- way for Guthrie Farms Subdivision, Phase III, and approved the fiscal year 2026-27 collective bargaining agreement between the city and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2145.
The pay plan provides a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal year 2027 and maintains the established step structure for covered Fire Department positions. The agreement also includes merit increases, removes one step from the front of the pay plan, increases annual vacation buyback from 60 to 72 hours and formalizes the 48-hour shift schedule.
In his City Manager's report, Faulkner announced Planning Director Dan Kassik's resignation, effective Oct. 29. Kassik has accepted a position in northeast Oklahoma. The city has posted the position and is accepting applications. Mayor Adam Ropp signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 18-24, 2026, as National Friends of Libraries Week in Guthrie.
The proclamation recognized the Friends of the Guthrie Public Library for fundraising, volunteer service and advocacy supporting the library. It highlighted the group's contributions to library programming, children's summer reading, equipment and special events, as well as the library's role in promoting lifelong learning and providing educational materials and services for residents of all ages. Ropp encouraged residents to join the Friends group and thank its members for their continued efforts.