The former Sam’s Town has been transformed into the Adair Town Hall, Police Department and Community Center. Trustees approved the last round of major expenses for the makeover at their regular meeting Wednesday.

Approximately $13,645 was approved for signs, window lettering, air conditioning repair, hanging double doors, paint, tile and two cameras, among other things. Mayor Steve Hall said the entire complex will be surveilled by cameras. The community center will be named the Cathryn E. Lee Memorial Community Center for the longtime town benefactor.

A meeting room will be on the east end of the building. The police department is on the west end beside the town hall and the large center space is the community center.

Trustees have approved a contract for use of the community center. The contract states groups using the center must check out and return the key each time they use the building.

Boy Scout leader Carl Osborn addressed the board Wednesday, saying he wants to have a key since the scouts meet each Wednesday and it is too hard for them to pick up a key each time.

“The rules won’t work for us on a key,” Osborn said. “We’ve tried to pick up keys before, but it doesn’t work.” Osborn said the key would be kept in the scout van unmarked.

Osborn offered the trustees a $500 check as a key deposit. “All I ask is you amend the rules and try me for awhile. If it doesn’t work, we’ll move out.”

Osborn said Pryor Sertoma gave him a key to their building and Big Cabin has offered a key. He said there are places the scouts can go if he is not allowed to have his own key.

Osborn said the scouts would like to move in by next week because “for 13 weeks we’ve had no home.”

“You need to take your check back,” Trustee Trent Peper said. “This is not a credibility issue.”

Town attorney Cherie Meislahn said “credibility is not the issue. The board lost control of the old community building. That’s why there is a contract. What we’re saying is we’re not giving anybody keys. If we let anyone have a key, everyone wants a key.”

Osborn argued designating a person to pick up a key doesn’t work. He said scouts come from 14 towns and communities each week. “No one lives here in town to pick up a key.”

Keys do not have to be returned after use as there is a drop box slot for them at town hall.

The board took no action.

Trustees approved the purchase of a new storm siren in the amount of $13,561. It will be mounted on the existing pole near the fire department. Mayes County Emergency Management will have control of the siren. The siren can be heard for approximately a one mile radius.

Several properties were discussed which need to be cleaned up. No one was present for a hearing on the Rose Moore property north of the post office. Trustees voted to hire Arlis Anderson to do the work since there are trees to trim, an old foundation to remove and very high weeds. The bill will be sent to Moore.

Letters will be sent for clean up to Johnny Wiley’s property at 401 S. Hall and Chad and Amanda Brodsky’s property at 610 E. Main.

The Adair Fire Department raised $7,089 in the annual Fill the Boot campaign for muscular dystrophy.

Adair Chamber of Commerce President Randy Ross asked the trustees to participate in a town beautification project. The Chamber is hoping an OSU landscape and design class will choose Adair for their class project. If Adair is chosen, complete plans for a 10-15 year improvement plan will be made for $4,000, which the Chamber will pay. The town will need to provide maps and aerial photos to help with the plans. The trustees approved.

Police Chief Anthony Benton reported 50 citations were issued in August including one contributing to the delinquency of a minor, eight disobeying a stop light, one disobeying a stop sign, three driving under suspension, one following too close, one improper tag display, two no insurance, one operation of

a motorcycle without endorsement, one operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, one permitting an unauthorized person to drive a vehicle, two person under 21 consuming beer/alcohol, one possession of marijuana, one public drunk, one reckless driving, 22 speeding, one taxes due the state, one transporting an open container. There were six arrests made on city charges and one arrest made with two county warrants and one city charge.

Benton told trustees problems continue with the Impala police car. He said the air conditioning was out and the car is again draining new batteries to the point the car must be jump started if it sits more than a day. He said the car has been to three different garages and none of them can find out what’s causing the power discharge. In addition, he said the transmission is now slipping.

Benton provided quotes on two used police cars from Joe Watt in Vinita. He said the lot will give $1,500 for the Impala. The money for payments on the police cars comes from the police equipment fund. Currently payments are made on a new Dodge Charger ($450) and a 2007 Dodge Charger ($415). There are three full time police officers and two reserves at Adair. The matter was tabled.