Published: May 15, 2008 09:36 am            

Locust Grove trustees wrap up four-hour meeting Monday

With several items on each agenda, it took nearly four hours for the Locust Grove Board of Trustees to get through the Town of Locust Grove and Public Works Authority regular monthly meeting Monday night.

In the Town meeting, the board took no action on the abatement of two properties within the city limits. The Wanda Bates property located at 412 S. Bryan and the Reva Ingram property located on Walnut Street will be discussed at the next council meeting. Fire Chief Rob Foreman asked the board to move forward with the abatement proceeding without any delay at the next meeting.

The board approved moving over $31,000 of public safety funds established by the one cent sales tax into a savings account. The money can then be used by the fire department, police department or civil defense with the approval of the board.

The police department had several items on the agenda including a 90-day review of police officer Jerry Ragsdale. No action was taken on the review. The board approved having windows tinted on two new police vehicles. Raith said a bid was made by a company but when the company tinted the first vehicle a bill came for $165, which was more than had been initially proposed. Raith suggested they have someone else tint the final two vehicles. The board approved allowing Lonnie’s Window Tinting to tint both vehicles, not to exceed $280.

The police department will receive new networking software to help in the department and the jail. Police department employee Kara Gibson will purchase Network Magic Software and will be reimbursed $49.99 from the Jail Fund.

Elite Canine was added to the blanket Purchase Order list. Elite Canine is a company that provides law enforcement training material and canine officer equipment. Chief Raith said Express Metal has donated $500 to help with costs of the new canine officer and the Locust Grove Animal Clinic has agreed to donate funds and services for the dog.

A new dispatcher / officer was hired. Nathan Cooper was hired to work four days a week or 32 hours as a dispatcher and one day a week or 8 hours as an officer. Cooper, who is also a reserve officer and works with the new K-9 officer Ian, is only two weeks short of his C.L.E.E.T certification. He will begin May 19, at $8 per hour and will be a temporary employee until July 1.

In other business, the board approved adding Drift Mart to the blanket purchase order list with a limit of $150 from the General Fund. Drift Mart is a local business that has office supplies.

The fire department will receive four new Motorola pagers. Foreman said some of the department’s pagers are old and in need of replacement. The new pagers will cost $390

but each has a $75

mail-in rebate. The board

approved purchasing the pagers from Muskogee Communications, not to exceed $1,600 from the General Fund. Once the rebate comes in the money will be put back into the General Fund.

No action was taken on accepting a vacation policy that was prepared by the city attorney John Crockett. The board agreed to allow city employees to review the policy before voting on it. Also no action was taken on reimbursing former employee Amanda Chappelle mileage and no action was taken on approving budgets for each of the town’s departments.

The board discussed resubmitting a claim by Katherine Keener to the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, the town’s insurance carrier. Keener submitted a claim after her step-son was involved in an accident on Joe Koelsch Drive that caused property damage to a horse trailer and horse. The board agreed to send the claim with estimates to fix the trailer, photos of the site where the wreck occurred and of the injured animal and veterinarian bills to OMAG. The insurance group has now denied the claim twice.

“I think we should abide by their decision,” said Trustee Terry Starling.

The board agreed to accept OMAG’s findings and send a letter to Keener.

An all-in-one Xerox printer/fax machine/copier will be purchased for City Hall. The machine will replace two printers, a copier and fax machine in the office. The board approved making the purchase from Digi Group not to exceed $850 from the general fund. The remaining $850 will come from the PWA since it is used by both the town and PWA.

The board also approved extending the employment of Roxanne Hins through May 30 at the same rate of pay. Hins has been helping with clean-up and improvements in City Hall.

Two new trucks will be purchased with funds from the Streets and Alley fund. The board approved the purchase of one 3/4 ton Chevy and a 1/2 ton Chevy from Owasso Fleet Connections for a total price of $49,135. The trucks will be used by PWA employees who also work on the town’s Street and Alley projects.

        

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