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A city manager facing criminal charges in two counties for allegedly embezzling from previous employers just received a $25,000 bonus from Pawhuska, Oklahoma's city council. The decision took less than five minutes, with no public discussion of why Jerry Eubanks deserved the windfall or where the money would come from.
The Manager With A Criminal Past
Jerry Eubanks currently faces embezzlement charges in two different counties related to his work at previous cities. The Blackwell Municipal Authority holds a judgment against him for over $30,000 for equipment he allegedly stole. Despite this extensive legal baggage, Pawhuska hired him as interim city manager and is now rewarding him with taxpayer funds.
Local residents provided evidence that Eubanks has city equipment, including a skid loader, stored on his personal property. Photos allegedly taken by a district attorney's investigator show multiple pieces of municipal equipment at his home, including a John Deere tractor and various attachments. The Major County Sheriff's Department has reportedly been notified, but no action has been taken.
The Assistant Manager's Sudden Exit
Just before the bonus consideration, Pawhuska's assistant city manager abruptly resigned. The timing raises questions about what she may have discovered in the city's financial records. City financial reports reviewed by investigators appeared unusual, with some documents looking like they were created internally rather than by official banking institutions.
The assistant manager's departure left Eubanks without oversight, potentially explaining the council's rush to reward him with additional compensation beyond his existing six-figure contract.
A Meeting Designed to Exclude Public Input
The bonus approval happened at a city council meeting where public participation was severely limited. The same mayor who previously ejected a reporter mid-sentence during public comment period presided over this meeting. The agenda item was buried as a routine employment matter, giving little indication of the substantial financial impact.
When questioned outside the meeting, Eubanks refused to explain what he had done to earn the bonus or whether it would be used to pay back money owed to other municipalities. Council members claimed he was working "8 to 10 days a week," though no documentation of this overtime was presented.
Budget Rules Bent for the Bonus
The most shocking revelation came when council members admitted the $25,000 wasn't budgeted. Eubanks himself confirmed they would need to amend the budget and take money from the Utility Authority to fund his bonus. This means the council committed taxpayer funds without prior allocation or planning.
The 3-2 vote happened with minimal discussion and no explanation of criteria used to justify the amount. No performance metrics were cited, no benchmarks achieved, and no extraordinary circumstances explained.
What The Video Reveals
The full footage captures the brazen nature of this financial decision and raises serious questions about potential Open Meetings Act violations. Council members made references to prior discussions about the bonus, suggesting deliberation may have occurred outside public view.
Watch the complete footage to see how quickly your tax dollars can disappear when accountability disappears with them.
