Durant City Council in its regular meeting last week approved a resolution for a municipal election on April 1, 2025.
Council seats for Ward No. 1, presently held by Humprey Miller, and Ward No. 2, currently occupied by Lauran Fuller, are up for election. The filing period begins Feb. 3 and ends Feb. 5.
City council elections are non-partisan.
In other action during the meeting, Jesse Petty, who assumed duties as Durant Police Chief during Thanksgiving week, was sworn in by Special District Judge for the 19th Judicial District Emily Redman.
Petty, who served 21 years with the department before retiring in 2021 and becoming chief of the Choctaw Lighthorse Police, is glad to be at the helm of DPD.
“Choctaw Lighthorse is great and Choctaw Nation was great but the opportunity arose for me to return back to Durant PD which of course, is my home department,” Petty said, during a recent reception for him. “So, with a servant heart, I felt like that was a good fit and I’m very excited and proud to be back in Durant and continue to lead that department in 21st century policing.” In other action during the meeting, three city employees received awards from the Oklahoma Municipal League for 25 years or more of service. They are: David Anderson city garage; Joseph Clark, police department and Phillip Hightower, public works. Dustin Rudolf, who was not present also received an award for 30 years with the fire department.
Council members approved Jason Pedraza as municipal judge for a term beginning Jan. 13, 2025, and ending Jan. 4, 2027, based upon a recommendation from Mayor Martin Tucker.
Morgen Potts was approved as an alternate judge for the same term.
The council approved a rezoning request from Bryan County Commissioner Scott Goad for property at 301. N. Fourth Ave. where the county plans to build a new office building. The request was to change it from general residential to general commercial. There is already a mixture of commercial and residential property in the area.
A request from Young Properties Group to rezone property at South 22nd Ave. and West Mississippi Street was approved by the council. Young Properties Group is wanting to build a new subdivision there with approximately 128 single-family homes and possibly multi-family homes in the future, according to a city memo.
The council also approved a Conditional Use Permit for Narvaez Construction to expand an existing storage unit at 1408 S. Ninth Ave.
Mayoral appointments of Lenzie Knight and Sara Solis to the Keep Durant Beautiful Board were approved.
