Sommer Woodward
Chouteau trustees discussed fencing the cemetery during their monthly meeting Monday.
Mayor Jerry Floyd asked the board to think about using a portion of approximately $60,000 the town has in the bank to fence the north
cemetery.
Floyd received two bids from A Class Fence for $24,754 and Just Fence It for $25,580 to install industrial strength fencing at the cemetery.
Floyd said the money in the bank account could be used for the fencing or the town could put the money into a CD.
He asked board members to think about their options and they’d take any action necessary at a future board meeting.
A representative from Aflac, Charlie Plemons, presented information to the board about their services. The representative asked whether the board was familiar with Aflac, to which Floyd replied “just that duck quacking on the TV.”
Plemons explained Aflac is supplemental insurance and seeks to pay the client if they’re ever hospitalized or injured. Aflac offers several options for accident policy, hospitalization, cancer and disability. Floyd said the board would look over the information before taking any action.
The police chief’s report stated Chouteau issued 237 citations, wrote 46 warnings and gave 70 verbal warnings. Officers made 353 total contacts in July and took 135 police calls. Officers arrested five for drugs and jailed 25 people. Reserve officers worked 75.5 hours. The department took six animal calls, picking up five, euthanizing one and adopting two. Seven
crashes with two injuries were worked in July.
Arrests were made for possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS) and marijuana, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and possession of marijuana, three DUIs, eight pubic intoxications, one shoplifting and one emergency detention order.
Cases worked during July included a child in need of supervision, burglary from auto, domestic assault, theft, death report, harassment, larceny, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, vandalism, two theft from autos, attempting breaking and entering and arson, assault and counterfeit money. Police Chief Gary Shrum reported Mayor Jerry Floyd was instrumental in getting five new buillet proof vests donated to the police department, valued at $3,600.
In other business:
• The board approved a $2 per hour pay increase for Firefighter Keith Brandon, retroactive to
June 1.
• John Bailey was approved as a part-time dispatcher for 35 hours per week at $8.50 per hour.
• The board approved a budget amendment in the street and alley fund for $16,402 from Cheroke Nation for the street improvement project grant.
• A interlocal cooperative jail agreement with Locust Grove was approved at $18 per day per
prisoner.
• The board approved two payments of $2,759.77 and $3,975.22 to Pryor Stone Company for
crusher runs.
• Two 50-foot poles from Public Service Company of Oklahoma were approved for $1,626.25 for new sirens.
• A grasshopper mower was
purchased from Quantie’s Auto Suply for $12,147.50.
• A budget amendment of $3,412.69 to reopen the Chouteau Dog Pound Fund was approved.
• A payment of $1010 to Attorney Ben Sherrer for legal services in July was approved.
• The town is surplusing a Sony Cam-Corder and giving it to Strang Police Department.
• The board approved a $46,00 budget amendment in the special fire fun for a $43,700 grant received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant money and $2,300 out of the special fire fund will be used to pay for the Magnegrip Exhaust System at the fire department. The system will allow firefighters to have the bay doors closed with the trucks running. The exhaust system will
funnel the exhaust outside the fire station.
• The board approved having 10 firefighters attend Firefighter 1 Class for up to $300 per firefighter.
• The board approved the court department to register for a one-year membership of On Demand Court Records for a cost of $59.95.
