The OML Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mike Fina
The Oklahoma Municipal League podcast features conversations with various government and business leaders about the biggest issues facing Oklahoma's cities and towns. From economic development to COVID-19, government policies to elections, this podcast is for anyone interested in the operation of municipal government across the state.
Mike and Dave are joined by Sarah Lingenfelter, education director and also conference and programs manager at the Oklahoma Municipal League. Sarah discussed how the OML annual conference comes together and what to expect from this year’s conference in September. “This is the perfect opportunity to hear from your peers,” Sarah said. “No matter what your job title is, there is something new for you.”
Another episode from the City Management Association of Oklahoma Summer Conference in Enid, as Mike and Dave were joined by Justin Battles, assistant city manager in Mustang and the outgoing president of the CMAO, who talked about mental health in the city manager job. The podcast also welcomed the incoming CMAO president, Chuck Ralls from the city of Collinsville, who discussed his goals for the coming year.
Mike and Dave continued recording from Enid and were joined by the city’s mayor, David Mason, who talked about the city's growth, how they navigated a recent tornado, and other challenges faced by cities and towns across the state.
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.
Oklahoma was the first state to collect sales tax and municipal finance has never been the same. Mike and Dave discuss the ins and outs and how some cities and towns get 60 to 80 percent of their general funds from sales tax.
On this return episode of The OML Podcast, hosts Mike Fina, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, and Dave Andren, the Research Director of OML, discuss ad valorem taxes (property taxes) and the misconceptions about how municipalities can and can’t use them. Mike and Dave also talk about why it’s so difficult for cities and towns in Oklahoma to pass GO bonds.
On this return episode of The OML Podcast, hosts Mike Fina, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, and Dave Andren, the Research Director of OML, discussed the challenges and strategies for municipal funding in Oklahoma. highlighting Oklahoma's near-last ranking in overall state funding for cities and towns. They also emphasized the need for diversified funding sources and the impact of aging infrastructure, rising public safety costs, and the regressive nature of sales tax, which Oklahoma cities and towns exclusively rely on. The conversation also touched on the historical context of municipal funding and the importance of educating the public and legislators.
OML Executive Director Mike Fina discusses the unique challenge Oklahoma cities and towns face when it comes to funding their budgets and what an effort to reform the state’s system could look like in the months to come.
Mike Fina talks with Christian Rinehart, OML's associate general counsel, about the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to cities and towns.
Nikki Lloyd, the mayor of Bethany, visits with OML Executive Director Mike Fina about her first year in office, new developments in Bethany, and navigating the challenges faced by most Oklahoma mayors.
OML executive director Mike Fina talks with Christopher Bruehl, Director of Appointments at Office of Gov. Kevin Stitt, about his job in the administration and how he goes about selecting appointment recommendations for the governor.
Billions of dollars in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds are coming to Oklahoma. We discuss when city leaders can expect this round of funding to be available, how they will go about ensuring their cut, and what the money can be spent on.
Ben and Mike discuss the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, a $550 billion package that would be the largest investment in infrastructure in history, replacing lead water pipes in our schools, connecting more homes to high-speed internet and introducing additional communities to reliable passenger rail.
OML Executive Director Mike Fina spent part of this year's annual mayor's conference catching up with some of Oklahoma's female mayors to ask about their experiences and attempts to work together.
Mike Fina talks with Kim Peterson, the mayor of Guymon and also the new president of OML.
Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities, talks with OML's Mike Fina about the American Rescue Plan and what municipal leaders should expect.
Kelly Williams, director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, talks with Mike Fina about her role, the state's booming medical marijuana industry and its impact on cities and towns.
Mike Fina talks with Brian Mauck from American Fidelity, which has served as OML's consultant through Municipal Health Solutions.
Mike Fina visits with Rich Hess, vice president of business development for Health Care Highways, which is the network administrator for Municipal Health Solutions.
Mike Fina discusses the critical need for the Legislature to approve public safety districts and Senate Bill 838.
Mike Fina welcomed Edmond city councilman Josh Moore to discuss how he and his city responded to COVID-19 over the past year and what challenges faced cities and towns across the state.
OML Executive director Mike Fina talks with Aaron Farmer, president of The Retail Coach, about the impact COVID-19 has had on small businesses and what city leaders should expect in the months and years to come. Fina and Farmer also discuss what is expected in the next round of federal relief funding and an expected surge in retail sales in 2021. “We might be talking about one of the best retail years we’ve ever had,” Farmer said.
In this episode, Mike Fina talks with Mendy Spohn, a regional director for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, about the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, which began earlier this month. Spohn talked about where city officials fall on the state’s vaccine priority list and the importance of protecting those working in water, sewer, and other municipal departments. Spohn also offered advice to city leaders on how to stay up to date on the vaccine distribution in the months to come.
Oklahoma Municipal League Executive Director Mike Fina talks with Nancee Morris, OML Director of Operations and Municipal Health Solutions Plan Administrator, about how OML is helping cities and towns reduce health insurance costs.
Just a few years since voters legalized medical marijuana, Oklahoma municipalities continue to adapt. OML Executive Director Mike Fina talks with Daniel McClure, OML's Deputy General Counsel, about how medical marijuana policy continues to evolve.
AJ Griffin, a former Republican member of the Oklahoma State Senate and current director of government and community affairs at Paycom, joins OML executive director Mike Fina to discuss the 2020 election and the results in Oklahoma.
On this episode of the OML Podcast Mike Fina speaks with Julie Bisbee, executive director for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), about the variety of programs the trust manages, its resources for cities and towns, and an upcoming state question that could impact TSET's funding.
On this week's episode, Oklahoma Municipal League Executive Director Mike Fina speaks with Mark Thomas of the Oklahoma Press Association about recent changes to open meeting laws that impact cities and towns across the state.
Mike Fina, executive director of the OML, speaks with Norman Mayor Breea Clark about how her city handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Mike opens the episode with a review of major COVID-19 milestones over the last several months and its impact on Oklahoma cities and towns.