By Burt Mummolo, FOX23.com News Staff
HASKELL, Okla. — At Reggie’s Resale and Luxury Imports in downtown Haskell, you can find just about anything.
“I sell anything anybody needs,” shared Reggie Stafford. “…We’re in the country, so I sell everything. I sell furniture, fence, shovels.”
He even has an answer to the question many in town are asking: Why has the city decided to add $2.50 a month to my utility bill to help pay for the streetlights?
Stafford explained, “I guess they’re just trying to get every little bit they can from wherever they can.”
Haskell City Manager Mike Keene said the city doesn’t want the new fee to be overwhelming.
“We want to try to stay as low as we can,” Keene stated.
He said, on average, the city spends $6,000 a month on the streetlight bill, and the new fee is set to help.
“Even at $2.50, we only bring in around $2,000 a month.”
Some folks are opposed to it.
“Things are tight everywhere right now,” one resident shared. “…There’s other places I would think they’d be able to get it from.”
Others, like William Davis who owns Haskell Gun and Pawn, said they understand the city’s reasoning.
“I don’t mind,” Davis said. “I know we’re a small city and we need help.”
Davis has seen the city’s growth and is looking forward to seeing more of it.
“We are going to grow and I think think this will help. Paying our little fee helps with the city.”
Meanwhile, back at City Hall…
“I totally understand why some of our citizens are concerned about it and everything else,” Keene said.
He said he empathizes, especially with the current economy.
“It’s very frustrating from our standpoint and I know it’s frustrating from our citizens’ standpoint. You know, how do we pay for stuff?”
Speaking of stuff, if you’re looking for a good deal…
“Everything’s on special every day!” said Stafford.
