Mayor Dale Copeland is running for reelection. Here's where he stands on key issues

As the Bartlesville City Council election approaches on Nov. 5, during the 2024 General Election, candidates were asked by the Examiner-Enterprise to share their view on the city’s most pressing challenges.

Mayor Dale Copeland is seeking reelection to his Ward 1 seat. He is challenged by Tim Sherrick. Sherrick did not respond to the Examiner-Enterprise's questions. Copeland was first elected in 2011, chosen as Vice Mayor in 2014 and selected as Mayor in 2016.

Ward 1 encompasses a largely commercial area along Highway 75, and includes some residential areas in the central eastern part of Bartlesville.

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How will you balance water supply sustainability with rising utility rates?

Bartlesville faces ongoing challenges with water supply longevity, and water utility rates are in the middle of a 30% increase over five years. Which current option the city is exploring do you support for securing a sustainable future water supply for Bartlesville, and how do you plan to balance long-term water needs with financial responsibility?

This is a “city” topic, but we must look well outside the city limits to solve the issue, and we must work cooperatively with others. Since the 2002 drought the City has pursued affordable solutions for securing a long-term water supply. A 2007 Corps of Engineers (COE) study recommended the reallocation of flood pool supply at the COE-managed Hulah Lake as one of the best solutions. We have pursued this reallocation, along with Copan Lake water rights and others, but we have encountered obstacles to what we had hoped was a straightforward matter. The City and myself have regular communications with the COE and our Washington DC legislators and we are making steady, albeit slow, progress to an affordable solution. We are also looking at Kaw Lake and the Ada-Vermosa aquifer for additional sources, but those have their own issues, primarily high costs, to consider.

How will you improve roads while balancing budget and services?

The city is spending approximately $5 million on road maintenance. It estimates it would take $20 million a year in funding to reduce the road maintenance backlog to almost zero while raising average road conditions in Bartlesville to an above-satisfactory rating. What specific plans do you have to improve Bartlesville's road infrastructure while balancing the constraints of the city's budget with other city services and quality-of-life projects like parks and public spaces?

Street maintenance is always a top issue with citizens, me included. With approximately 500 lane miles across the city, streets maintenance remains a top priority for me. It is estimated that repairs and/or replacement costs currently average $500,000 to $2 million per mile. We must prioritize the streets to repair given the funds we have. Our Streets and Traffic Committee recommends projects across town to the City Council and voters. Our most recent GO Bond issue, approved by voters, increased roads spending to more than 70% (approx. $12 million) of that bond total in coming years. I will continue to focus on road improvements to the greatest degree possible in coming years.

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How will you support local businesses while attracting new industries?

Bartlesville offers initiatives to attract new businesses and a relocation incentive for employees of primary industries to move to town. How will you balance supporting existing local businesses while continuing to attract new industries and investments to Bartlesville?

Almost every city is competing for new business to enhance the local economy with good jobs and retail offerings that citizens want. Primary business is defined as an enterprise bringing in outside revenues to our community, with typically above-average payrolls. The Bartlesville Development Authority (BDA) is careful in their assessment of primary industries seeking to locate here and uses a standard formula for incentives. This program has been in use for years with good success. The more recently enacted employee relocation program has seen success in attracting new hires to become our neighbors who work, live, and shop here to support our community. Retail incentives also use a formula, and it considers the estimated impact of existing business with a focus on new businesses supplying desired products and services with less local impact. As a local retail business owner (Copeland Appliance) of many years I am keenly aware of and sensitive to potential impacts. I also know my friends and neighbors desire a broad selection of local goods and services. Finally, competition is a healthy thing for customer and business alike. Sales tax reports over recent years demonstrate an ongoing growth in our retail sector.

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How will you address child care and affordable housing shortages?

With the growing need for accessible child care and affordable housing mentioned in Bartlesville's Strategic Plan, what specific policies or initiatives would you support to address these shortages, and how would you collaborate with community partners to implement effective solutions?

Child care is a universal local-to-national challenge. It is a focus in our NEXT Strategic Plan of Emerging Issues. We are not alone in seeking solutions for these issues and we are watching to see how efforts in other communities address the dilemma. Our discussions with local employers and service providers have been productive and there is progress. Joint, cooperative efforts will almost certainly be our best path forward. Likewise, existing housing inventories and new housing construction costs are important concerns with recent estimates of $200 per foot quoted for new home construction. We continue efforts to spur additional affordable methods to improve child care and housing.

How will you evaluate key city officials and potential role changes?

One of the City Council's main responsibilities is to appoint and remove key positions such as the city attorney, treasurer, city manager and municipal judge. If elected, do you foresee any changes or adjustments in these roles or other city operations, and what criteria would you use to evaluate the performance of these officials?

I anticipate no changes to these roles. It is no surprise that our personnel are our largest expense and greatest asset to maintain high-quality services and compete with other cities our size. We are blessed to have excellent staff serving our City. We must always monitor performance and seek out improvements and efficiencies. Regular financial and progress reports along with ongoing scrutiny and awareness is an important Council task. Being human, changes sometimes bring short-term hiccups and stumbles as we learn new practices. But, working together for the common good I believe we have and will continue to achieve excellence. As former City Manager Ed Gordon was fond of saying, “Together We Can!”

How will you ensure transparency and accountability as a councilor?

The city committed to transparency through citizens' committees, newsletters, live streaming meetings, fulfilling open records requests and publishing all documents considered in council meetings in advance. What specific actions will you take as a councilor to uphold accountability and transparency for your constituents?

My record demonstrates my openness, positive sharing, and communications. I am available for personal visits, group presentations, media interviews and town halls. In recent years we have seen existing city communication practices improved and expanded — upgraded broadcast equipment and IT hardware and software, for example — and new outreach via weekly City Beat newsletters, social media posts, the My Bartlesville app, etc. I think the biggest challenge we face is making folks aware of all the sources our City provides for their access to a vast array of information. I often explain how to easily access some item in minutes, and the typical response from citizens is, “Wow! I had no idea that existed.”

The Examiner-Enterprise chose to publish the candidate's full answer to each question. The answers were only edited for style.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Mayor Dale Copeland is running for reelection. Here's where he stands on key issues