TheStroudCityCouncil gave approval to the grant administrator and city manager to work toward applying for a grant to help develop affordable housing at its regular meeting on July 9.
Leslie Wilbourn presented the grant to the Council, saying that it helps municipalities address barriers to home ownership.Afterspeaking with City Manager Bob Pearman, Stroud’s lack of house inventory was identified as the primary barrier. However, Wilbourn said this could help on the application as well as Stroud schools.
Currently, the two are looking at two approaches for the grant. The first is to use it for infrastructure to help create the opportunity for more housing to be built, while the other is to work with the Stroud Industrial Authority to build affordable housing.
About $50 million is available through the grant program, with applicants asked to apply for a minimum of $5 million and no more than $10 million per application. Wilbourn said Stroud intends to apply for $5 million, with the deadline on Aug. 3.
The Council approved the Stroud Industrial Authority’s recommendation to appoint Cody Paige as a trustee, online transfers for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and lease purchase agreements for 2026-27. The Council also adopted the 2026 Record Rentention Policy and the Total Capital Needs Summary Five-Year Plan The Council also approved a resolution relating to the the retention of public records for the City and related entities, as well as one establishing an investment policy for the City of Stroud. This is a standard resolution passed at the beginning of every fiscal year that allows the City Clerk to invest City funds according to established state law and policy.
The Council approved a School Resource Officer Contract for Fiscal Year 2026-27 that included the 3 percent salary increase that staff received.
In the city manager’s report, Pearman highlighted the new stoplight at the intersection of FourthAvenue and Route 66/Main Street. He said that they also finally got a permit for the waterline west of town and a date from the railroad company to go under the tracks, so that project should be finished sometime during July.
Pearman reported that paving at Foster Park has been completed, though they are looking for solar lights to install on the walking path. The second part of the TSET grant for the park involves installing a pickleball court and resurfacing the tennis and basketball courts. The grant restarts on Aug. 1.
Pearman also reminded the Council of upcoming events, such as Mural Fest on July 16 and boat races at the lake on Sept. 12.
During the city attorney’s report, Jim Hodgens said that in next month’s meeting the Council will be presented with an ordinance concerning decorum at Council meetings that’s been recommended by OML. The ordinance will address behavior at all public meetings. Lions Club will also request that the Council close a portion of FourthAvenue on Sept. 12andallowtheconsumption of alcohol for its upcoming Hogtoberfest.
At the Stroud Utilities Authority meeting immediately following, a motion to approve an 1,830’ waterline extension to the east side of the airport on 26th Street died for lack of a second. The Council then approved a 1,095 waterline extension on Allied Road from 17th Street and online transfers for the fiscal year.
Lake Ranger Jared Null presented a plan to possibly open up archery deer hunting at the lake. The Council was open to the suggestion but took no action, instead requesting that Null return with maps and a plan for how to carry out the hunting season.