BROKEN ARROW, Okla.- City Manager Michael Spurgeon outlined his plans for the city this afternoon and reflected on difficulties the city may face in 2017.
Spurgeon said 2016 was his first full year as city manager and he had three goals: Build relationships, understand how the city operates and assess city finances.
He said he effectively accomplished those things.
Going forward he plans to complete the public infrastructure in the Rose District, and turn the focus on rebuilding the Rose District's residential areas.
In addition, he's working to make relations with the school district and city council stronger so the entities can work closer together.
Spurgeon said he has a plan to spend $70 million reinvesting on city infrastructure. He specifically named reworking the city's utility system to accommodate the city's growth.
Also, he showed excitement for growing the city's tourism. He expanded on building a new conference center to attract travelers to the city's roughly 1,100 hotel rooms.
When it comes to challenges Spurgeon said the top ones apply to cities across the state.
He said teachers need to be paid more, and the city's sales tax is not enough to cover the city's expenses.
Ultimately he wants to be transparent with Broken Arrow residents to give them the necessary information to make informed decisions.
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