Guymon Parks Board elects Amanda Beasley chair; city manager outlines advisory role and training plan

The Guymon Parks Board elected Amanda Beasley chairwoman and Jill vice chairwoman at its organizational meeting and heard an orientation from the city manager about the board's advisory role and upcoming park projects.

At Item 4, Speaker 1 moved "I have a motion to nominate Amanda Beasley as chairwoman." The motion was seconded and the board voted; the presiding officer announced that the motion carried and Amanda Beasley was elected chairwoman for 2026. Under Item 5 the board considered nominations for vice chair; after nominations and a second the motion for Jill carried and Jill was elected vice chairwoman.

The board also approved the minutes from the Nov. 21, 2024 regular meeting. During the minutes vote, named roll responses recorded Easley and Johnson as saying "Aye." The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn, with members answering "Aye" when polled.

In staff comments (Item 8), the City Manager addressed the board at length, emphasizing the body's advisory status: "You are a strictly a advisory committee," he said, and noted that the parks board was established by "a resolution and ordinance," not as a statutory board under "Title 11 of the State of Oklahoma." He said the board does not control city funds: "You don't control the money."

The City Manager explained the process for moving board recommendations: proposals or requests should be developed with the assigned liaison (he said Keith will serve in that role), then staff and the city manager will take recommendations to city council for funding or action. He urged the board to prepare agenda items with cost estimates and research so staff can evaluate budget impacts.

On training, the City Manager said the city is likely to present a resolution to council to require volunteers to take continuing-education on Open Meetings rules: "We're probably presenting a resolution to city council that it's gonna make it a mandate that you take at least 4 hours, continue education on the Open Meetings Law Act," he said, while noting the training is currently "highly recommended" but not mandatory.

Board members requested a staff presentation reviewing the parks inventory, names and locations; a board member noted the city has about 17 parks and asked that staff (previously Sheila and Annette) brief the board on current projects and park locations. The City Manager said the parks inventory is available on the city website and that Ursula (records clerk) or Keith will be points of contact for submitting items to the board agenda and for meeting reminders.

Next steps: the manager said he will assign the liaison (Keith) to work with board members on agenda items, staff will prepare a parks overview for a future meeting, and the city will present the training proposal to council. The board adjourned after the motion carried.