Firefighter and police unions urge Del City to retain key staff, praise labor relations work

McKay Roble (appearing earlier in the transcript as 'McKay Bridal'), speaking as the elected president of Del City Firefighters Local 2171, told the council the union values a city administrator who listened, worked collaboratively on a longstanding public safety sales-tax and collective bargaining language issue, and helped the parties avoid protracted arbitration. "Instead of allowing that to happen, this individual was committed to working through the problem with us," Roble said, crediting months of meetings that produced clearer contract language and what the speaker described as a sustainable system moving forward.

A second public commenter, who identified himself as president of the Del City Police Union, said the union supports keeping Assistant City Manager Kelly Wilbanks because she was willing to listen, take ride-alongs with officers and engage in difficult conversations. The speaker also credited Interim Chief Taylor for operational improvements and new training, including less-lethal training, and said the union wants that momentum to continue.

Council did not take action on personnel during public comment; these remarks were entered during the public-input portion of the agenda. No city staff member responded with a formal personnel action at the meeting. The speakers framed their remarks as appeals to preserve continuity and institutional knowledge in public-safety leadership.

The public comments were followed by routine council business and did not produce a motion tied to the unions' requests. The council later entered executive session on separate items (economic development and legal matters) and, after the executive session, took no personnel action on the employment-related item discussed in closed session.