Poteau City Council sets OG& right of way election

The Poteau City Council passed a motion adopting an amended ordinance to OG&E as well as an amended resolution to hold an election in Poteau to grant a franchise to OG&E during a regular meeting held Monday night.

The amended ordinance will grant Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) a franchise for the installation, operation, and maintenance of an electric distribution system and selling electricity in Poteau.

The franchise election will be held on August 27, and will give residents an opportunity to vote whether or not to keep OG&E as an electric provider. Such franchise elections are required by Oklahoma law for internet providers.

Eddie Lee Herndon is a Community Affairs Manager at OG&E, and was present to address the council.

According to Herndon, the franchise agreement will give OG&E access to maintain equipment and restore power after storms. OG&E will provide the City of Poteau free electric service and revenue from power sales, and there will be no new charges to bills. The City of Poteau will receive three percent of the gross revenues from the sale of electricity within the city.

Herndon also said the ordinance is a continuance of the agreement that is already in place between OG&E and the city.

Addressing Mayor Scotty White, Herndon said, “We so much appreciate being the electric company for Poteau, and we are so proud of the folks that are from here that are employed by our company.”

The opening of Ordinance Number 828 reads as follows:

An ordinance granting to the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, an Oklahoma Corporation, its successors and assigns, the right to produce, transmit and distribute electricity within the city limits and to sell electricity therein for all purposes for which it may be used, to the City of Poteau, LeFlore County, Oklahoma, its inhabitants and the public generally, and the right to construct, maintain and operate a system of poles, wires, conduits and other facilities and equipment in, upon, across, under and over the streets, alleys, public grounds or ways in the city for such purposes for a period of twentyfive (25) years from the approval and acceptance of this ordinance; providing compensation to the city; and ordering an election.

The opening of Resolution 2024-01 reads as follows:

A resolution calling for a special election in the

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