Lawton City Council to create committee focused on needs of veterans

The City of Lawton would have a committee dedicated to issues concerning veterans, if the City council accepts a recommendation at today’s meeting.

City Manager John Ratliff is expected to present the item that would create a Veterans Affairs Committee, whose defined purpose is demonstrating a commitment to honoring and supporting veterans, while ensuring their unique needs are addressed comprehensively. City officials said while Lawton provides some services, “the creation of a specialized committee could enhance cooperation, collaboration, and responsiveness to the specific needs of our veteran population.”

Not only is Lawton/Comanche County home to Fort Sill, the county has the highest per capita population of veterans in the state, city and state officials say. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a count between 2018 and 2022 sets that veteran population at 14,388.

The agenda item outlines tasks the committee would pursue, ranging from linking veterans to services to actions the city could take to help. Specific categories include:

•Needs assessment: A comprehensive assessment of needs and challenges for veterans and their families.

•Resource coordination: Enhance collaborations among existing organizations, agencies and non-profits to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.

•Advocacy and outreach: Advocating for the rights and well-being of veterans at local and state levels, to include developing outreach programs.

•Policy: Research and propose policies to address gaps in services, employment opportunities, health care and housing.

•Community engagement: Organize events and initiatives to raise awareness of veterans’ issues.

In other business, the council will tackle three items from previous meetings: a new ordinance strictly controlling the sale and purchase of scrap copper; a redevelopment agreement creating a south Lawton warehouse complex; and formal approval for an Eagle Scout project to upgrade the dog park in McMahon Park.

The new ordinance stems from discussions the council has had about issues associated with homelessness, to include actions they want to take. In this instance, council members are looking at the problem of stolen scrap copper, a crime city police say has increased.

The new ordinance would prohibit scrap metal dealers from buying copper in any form unless the seller is an exempted seller as defined by city code. Specifically, it prohibits buying copper in any form, to include wire, cable, bar, rod, sheets and tube. It also bans the purchase of copper/aluminum material mixes, such as condensing or evaporating coils, as well as automotive catalytic converters. The ordinance also makes it illegal for any scrap metal dealer to purchase or sell any shopping cart(s) or parts of carts.

Council members also are expected to sign off on a redevelopment agreement with Fisher59, which wants to buy 15.71 acres of land in the airport industrial park for a 100,000-square-foot warehouse complex. Two other economic development entities, including property owner Lawton Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), approved the agreement last week.

The project is a $16 million investment by Fisher59, which has pledged to retain its existing 60 employees while adding 30 more over a 10-year period. Under the agreement, the City of Lawton will reimburse Fisher59 up to $1.6 million for public infrastructure work (12-inch water and sewer lines, and extension of a road) for the site. Because the tract is within a Tax Increment Financing District, the city can use the increased value that stems from development of now-vacant land to cover that reimbursement cost.

LEDC and the Lawton Economic Development Authority approved the agreement last week.

Council members also will formally grant permission to Bryce Mosley to renovate the dog park in McMahon Park as his Eagle Scout project.

Mosley received council support earlier this month for his $20,500 Paws on the Ground project that he said would bring new life to the Vito Baxter Puppy Promenade, located on the northeast side of the park off West Lee Boulevard. Mosley said renovation needs include repairing fences, clearing out debris, leveling out areas that now turn into ponds during rains, and creating a separate entrance for the small dog area.

His analysis estimates $18,000 of the projected cost would be in materials, with a largely volunteer labor force tackling the upgrades over a series of work sessions that he wants done by May. The project already has won the support of residents who walk their dogs in the park, and Mosley said he will be approaching businesses and others for donations to cover costs.