Melissa McClendon
Locust Grove had to replace another mayor Tuesday night after the resignation of Jim Flynn. The Town of Locust Grove met in a special meeting to discuss the resignation of two board members, police department business and the dog pound.
No action was taken on the two resignations. Flynn resigned Monday after serving many years on the board. Trustee Joe Caldwell also resigned because he is moving out of the town. With two seats open, the board will have to appoint new board members to the seats. Since Flynn served as mayor the board will also look to find a new leader for the town. In the meantime, vice mayor, Shawn Bates, will take over mayoral duties.
Bates said anyone
interested in joining the board can fill out a questionnaire at City Hall. The questionnaire will then help the board appoint someone to the open seat. The two new members of the board will have to run for election at the next general election in April 2011. At that time, trustees Vickie Herr and Andy Coverdell will also have to run for election. Bates will be up for re-election at that time, meaning the Town of Locust Grove could see five new board members.
In town business, Kara Gibson resigned as a court clerk and dispatcher. She has accepted a position with the town’s attorney John Crockett. A special reception is planned for Gibson for
2 p.m., Thursday at the police department. She has worked for the town for over a decade.
The board hired City Clerk Tamatha Ogilvie as the new court clerk. She began training July 15. She will make $10.50 an hour with a 90 day review.
Police Chief Nathan Raith asked that the board approve sending he and dispatcher Chad
Nave to Oklahoma
Law Enforcement Telecommunications System training. Gibson is the only employee who has been trained on the system. Raith said he will become the department’s OLETS supervisor. OLETS is the state based computer system that the department uses to check drivers license, license plates and warrants. Raith said the training is free and will be Aug. 4-7. He asked the board to cover the cost of staying in a hotel and $20 per day each for meals. The board approved the request not to exceed $280 for the hotel stay at Best Western.
A jail agreement with Salina, Chouteau and Sportsmen Acres was approved. The agreement is renewed annually. It allows Locust Grove to hold prisoners for each of the communities at a cost of $18 per day.
The board is considering making changes to the town’s existing dog pound policies. An incident that resulted in the death of a Locust Grove family’s pet led to the discussion. The dog was picked up by Public Works Authority workers and was euthanized by mistake. Dogs are held at the pound for a minimum of 72 hours before they are considered for euthanasia.
“I was ill-informed. I thought we had a 10 day and we have a three day holding period,” Bates said.
Crockett said the town’s ordinance says they will be held for a minimum of 72 hours in the pound. The ordinance also requires a notice be posted at the police department and pound with a description of the dogs the day they are picked up. All dogs in the town are required to be registered and all registered animals should be wearing tags.
Some of the discussion centered around how the dogs are euthanized. The town currently uses gas to put down the animals. Bates said maybe the town should consider talking with a local veterinarian, Dr. David Fleming, about euthanizing through injection.
“Can we talk to Dr. Fleming and see if there is a way to get the animals adopted?” Raith said.
For now, the board approved a new form to be used at the pound. The form will be filled out when an animal is picked up. A copy will be kept at the pound with the date the dog was brought in. Another copy will be kept at City Hall. The board will look at the item more in the future.
Bates also asked the board to consider making changes to dog pound.
“Shame on me for never having been to the dog pound facility,” Bates said.
He said he would like to see some improvements made but knows it will be costly.
“I think if we pleaded to the town we could get donations,” Bates said. No action was taken on
making improvements.
