The OML Podcast

The OML Podcast hit the road for the City Management Association of Oklahoma Summer Conference in Enid. Mike and Dave were joined again by Leslie Blair, the Oklahoma Municipal League’s legislative and communications director, who offered a School House Rock version of how the state legislative process works.

Mike and Dave talk with Leslie Blair, Oklahoma Municipal League’s legislative and communications director, who not only discussed her work at OML but also provided a recap of the 2026 legislative session and its impact on municipal governments across the state. “Honestly, this was a good session for municipal government,” Blair said.

Mike and Dave finished their recap of the Mayor's Summer Conference, which was held last month.

In the first of two parts, Dave and Mike recapped the recent Mayor's Summer Conference.

Mike and Dave are joined by Christian Rinehart, the Oklahoma Municipal League’s General Counsel, to discuss city council meetings and pitfalls that can cause chaos. This discussion dives into how city leaders can avoid the most common challenges in city meetings, including key legal tips.

In this episode, Mike and Dave discuss the duties of a city manager (after a brief detour into the new Star Wars film), the difference between city managers and town administrators, and how charters affect city managers' duties. Dave even gives us the day in the life of a city manager in Oklahoma.

After weeks of talking about how cities are funded through taxes, Mike and Dave explore enterprise funds, the most business-like way municipalities are funded. This includes fees for water, trash, storm water and other utility services, including gas and broadband, which a handful of cities manage. Mike and Dave also discuss the importance of keeping up with rising utility costs and the problem many cities run into when they avoid fee increases until it’s too late.

In this ongoing series on municipal funding, Mike and Dave focus on fees and fines, which Dave promises won’t be as heated as recent episodes. Fees often draw the most pushback from residents, but Dave and Mike discuss how city leaders should respond and communicate what fees are funding. Dave also shares his disdain for city-owned pools

Mike and Dave continue their conversation on motor vehicle taxes, how it's allocated, and the impact on municipal government. They specifically dive into fuel taxes and how cities see no sales tax from auto sales.

Mike and Dave dive deep into the state’s fuel tax, how it’s allocated, and the amount cities and towns get. They also discuss how Oklahoma compares to other states when it comes to road conditions, funding and tax rates.