Locust Grove’s SRO gets a new ride

Melissa McClendon

Locust Grove School Resource Officer Karen Hershberger’s new Drug Abuse Resistance Education police vehicle is on the street. The 2008 4-wheel drive Dodge Nitro, which cost $21,708, was bought for the town by an anonymous donor.

The Town of Locust Grove Board of Trustees approved the purchase at a special meeting in February along with the purchase of two 2008 Dodge Chargers from East Tulsa Dodge. The new vehicles will cost the town $21,256 each. Bids were taken from banking institutions and at Monday’s regular monthly meeting the board approved a bid from the Bank of Locust Grove. The board will either approve a four-year 4.9 percent or five-year 5.1 percent lease purchase at a future meeting.

In other police department business, the board approved the hiring of three reserve officers. Joining the reserve force are Bryan Hurry, Nate Cooper and Ian, a K-9 officer. The board approved tinting the windows of the new police vehicles not to exceed $425. A total of $133.33 will come from the drug fund since the tinting will be done on the new D.A.R.E. vehicle.

The board tabled action on raising court costs. Sealed bids were taken on five surplused vehicles. Only two bids were received. Terry Epperson was awarded an $850 bid for one of the Chevy Impalas. The board also approved $1,975.70 to be paid to A&B; Emergency Lighting for equipping the donated police vehicle.

Also during the meeting Mayor Shawn Bates discussed the recent “water situation.” He commended all of the help from local authorities and volunteers during the flooding. He also discussed the recent water line breaks and troubles at the water tower.

Bates said peoplehave been dumping trash at a location owned by the town south of town. The site has been used in the past as a dump site, but Bates said it is no longer a dump site and anyone caught dumping trash will be fined for trespassing and dumping their trash.

“They’re busting the lock to get in,” Bates said. “We have to figure out a way to secure it a little better.”

Green Country Refuse will bring a dumpster to the site so the town can clean up the area.

A claim made against the town’s insurance, Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, was denied. Katherine 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, of the injured animal and veterinarian bills to OMAG.

The board discussed the future of two properties located in the city

limits. The board approved abating property owned by Wanda Bates, located at 412 S. Bryant. The property burned recently and the board gave the property owner 30 days to clean up the area.

A second property damaged by fire, located at 315 S. Broadway, was also up for discussion. The property is owned by a woman who is currently living in a nursing home. At the March board meeting, Fire Chief Rob Foreman said there was no one in charge of her affairs but he could continue to try to find someone who handles her estate. The board declared an emergency to take immediate action to secure the property.

Trustees thought the Department of Human Services owned the property, but it was determined that the property is not owned by DHS, but DHS has a lien against the property for $31,000.

At Monday’s meeting, the board approved a hearing and to have the town’s attorney, John Crockett, write a letter to anyone the hearing would affect. The hearing will be at the next regular meeting, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.

In other business:

• The board voted there will be no residential

communications towers allowed in the city limits of Locust Grove. Towers will be allowed in commercial areas but can not exceed 35 feet.

• No action was taken on zoning Angel Daycare. Bates said the Planning and Zoning Committee is working on rezoning the town.

• The board tabled purchasing vehicles for the Street and Alley department.

• Flooring will be

purchased for city hall. The board approved $1,250 to purchase laminate vinyl flooring wood panels from General Flooring.

• The board adopted a Municipal Budget Act that will got into effect July 1.

• A review of Amanda Chappelle’s employment sent the board into executive session. When the board returned, they approved giving Chappelle paid leave through Friday, April 18, then Bates said she would be “terminated for the good of the

service.”

In the Public Works Authority meeting, the board approved the termination of Chappelle since she was a shared employee between the town and PWA. They also approved extending the employment of Roxanne Hins for 30 days. Hins will be installing the new flooring.

No action was taken on a contract with Green Country Refuse. Crockett and Trustee Terry Starling worked on the contract but no representative of Green Country Refuse was available at the meeting.

The board tabled action on hiring a PWA superintendent. At a special meeting Monday, April 7, Doug Davis resigned as superintendent to take a position with the county. The board, with the recommendation of Davis, appointed Tom Pirtle interim superintendent. At the regular meeting, Bates said Pirtle asked the board to wait until the next meeting to hire him as superintendent to make sure they approve of his ability, see how the other PWA employees like working with him in a lead position and to see if he wants to take the position.

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