Lawton City Council Special Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Lawton City Council met for a special meeting on September 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Wayne Gilley Auditorium at City Hall. The agenda focused heavily on code enforcement, including approvals for renovation extensions, demolition invoices, and declarations of dilapidated structures. Councilman Hampton was formally designated to chair the meeting after a procedural correction by the City Attorney. A subsequent administrative correction by the City Clerk adjusted vote tallies from 6-0 to 7-0 to account for the acting chair's vote.

Consent Calendar

• Approved staff recommendations to grant additional remodeling time for five properties: 1423 NW Ozmun Avenue, 1512 SW Dr Charles W Whitlow Avenue, 1618 NW Taft Avenue, 1306 SW H Avenue, and 2410 SW G Avenue.
• Approved invoices for the demolition of dilapidated buildings at 1123 SW New York Avenue, 1615 SW Washington Avenue, 735 SW 45th Street, 101 SW 74th Street (Secondary), 2004 SW Dr Charles W Whitlow Avenue, and 1207 SW I Avenue.
• The entire consent calendar was approved by a single unanimous motion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A representative for the property at 815 NW Bell Avenue (secondary structure) addressed the council, explaining that clearing efforts had been delayed by recent heat but that a demolition permit had been pulled.
• Amanda Alexander, a resident of 2308 NW 44th Street, stated she was a renter of the property. She informed the council that the owner had died two years prior and she was working to file permits and potentially purchase the property. She asked for a deferral to allow for renovations, specifically a roof leak repair.

Discussion Items

• Unfinished Business: The council declared the structure at 1501 SW Pennsylvania Avenue a dilapidated public nuisance and authorized abatement. Three other properties (3303 NW Cache Road, 3401 NW Oak Avenue, 3403 NW Oak Avenue) were tabled to October 13, 2026, after staff noted they had been sold to new owners who were actively applying for permits. Councilman Brown advocated for tabling rather than removing the properties to maintain enforcement pressure.
• Extension Denials: The council voted unanimously to deny requests for additional remodeling time for 905 SW Summit Avenue and 1113 NW Taft Avenue. Staff reported that no inspections or work had occurred on either property. Both properties will proceed to the demolition bidding process.
• Item 10 Review of Dilapidated Properties: The chair struck four properties from the initial list (1808 SW McKinley Avenue, 2116 SW McKinley Avenue, 1726 SW 13th Street, and 509 SW Washington Avenue) without further explanation.
  • 815 NW Bell Avenue: Continued to October 13, 2026, with no action taken.
  • 2308 NW 44th Street: A discussion ensued regarding the unclear legal ownership of the property. The council voted to table the matter to October 13, 2026, to allow staff time to research probate and ownership status to ensure proper legal notice to the owner.
  • Seven properties declared dilapidated: 213 NW Columbia Avenue (Secondary), 407 NW 3rd Street, 1205 NW Bessie Avenue, 1632 SW Dr Charles W Whitlow Avenue, 2003 SW Douglas Avenue, 2111 SW McKinley Avenue, and 2514 SW I Avenue. Each was unanimously declared a public nuisance and authorized for summary abatement.

Key Outcomes

• Decisions & Votes: The council granted 5 remodeling extensions, approved 6 demolition invoices, denied 2 extension requests (sending them to demolition), and declared 8 properties dilapidated (7 from Item 10, 1 from Unfinished Business). Five properties were tabled or continued to the October 13, 2026 meeting.
• Vote Correction: The City Clerk officially corrected the vote tally for all items passed before the formal chair designation from 6-0 to 7-0. A motion to ratify all preceding actions passed unanimously (7-0).
• Next Steps: Staff will proceed with demolition bidding for 905 SW Summit Avenue and 1113 NW Taft Avenue. Staff and the City Attorney were directed to investigate the legal ownership of 2308 NW 44th Street. The meeting adjourned at 5:38 PM.