Published: July 02, 2008 08:54 am         

Locust Grove approves budgets for fiscal year

The Town of Locust Grove balanced its budget last week during a special meeting. The board approved all budgets for the fiscal year 2008-2009.

Department heads presented their budgets before the board in search of approval. The Locust Grove Public Library budget of $50,130 was approved at the regular monthly meeting. The board also approved the dog pound budget with $420 set aside for Oklahoma Natural Gas and $2,080 for miscellaneous expenses such as dog food and darts. The total dog pound budget is $2,500.

The Locust Grove Fire Department was given a $45,000 budget for 2008-2009. That’s a $5,000 increase from the last fiscal year. The extra $5,000 will be used to give full time police dispatchers a raise since they cover both departments.

Police Chief Nathan Raith’s request for $274,682 for wages and insurance and $44,975 for operations and maintenance were approved. The community building budget will total $7,500. A total of $3,468 will be set aside for Oklahoma Natural Gas, $3,696 for PSO and $336 for miscellaneous costs.

In other business:

• The board approved

a contract between

the Mayes County Commissioners and the Town of Locust Grove to repair and maintain streets and alleys. The board also accepted a contract with the Commissioners for a jail use agreement.

• Office manager and Deputy City Clerk Crystal Harms will go to OMI’s annual conference and newly elected official conference. OMI pays for the conference fee and for her room. The town approved to pay for meals and other costs not to exceed $150.

• The library will use $4,215.99 of a State Aid Grant money to purchase two computers and

software from Ages Computers. The money will also be used to purchase a color printer from Digi Group.

• Locust Grove Police officer Derek Pettus and Jerry Ragsdale were made full time officers after their reviews.

The Locust Grove Public Works Authority special meeting followed with the biggest topic of discussion the PWA

budget.

The board approved $228,647 in wages for the PWA which includes seven full time employees and the possibility of adding two part time employees at a later date. The wages budget is up $22,270.85 from last year. The PWA operation and maintenance budget totaled $764,278 compared to $718,378 in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

     

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