Newkirk commissioners say an offer was made for city manager; candidate response awaited

Mayor Kellie Johnson called a special work session of the Newkirk Board of Commissioners to order at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2026. Commissioners Joe Anderson and Jack Bagg moved and seconded a motion to enter executive session to discuss the employment of the City Manager under Section 307 B (1) of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; the roll call recorded ayes from Anderson, Bagg and Johnson and the motion carried.

The commission reconvened in open session at 2:00 p.m. The minutes state: "An offer has been made to an applicant. No further action is to be taken until applicant responds." The minutes do not identify the applicant, the terms of the offer, or record a formal vote tied to making the offer.

Commission records show present at the Jan. 2 meeting were Mayor Kellie Johnson, Vice Mayor Joe Anderson, Commissioner Jack Bagg, Interim City Manager Jane Thomas and City Clerk Sarah Lockwood; Interim Treasurer Stacy Lamar and City Attorney W.L. Stout were listed as absent. The special session adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

The next procedural step recorded in the minutes is that the meeting minutes were "passed in session and approved this 12th day of January, 2026," with City Clerk Sarah Lockwood attesting. The commission’s public record does not list a timeline for the applicant’s response or any subsequent public meeting to finalize appointment if the applicant accepts.