Locust Grove Library gets new door

Melissa McClendon

Putting in a new door at the library and purchasing video equipment for the jail were just two items up for discussion at the regular monthly meeting of the town of Locust Grove Monday, June 5.

After a vote of 4-1, the board approved purchasing a rear door with keypad for the Locust Grove Public Library. The door will cost $2,010 and will be purchased from Total Service. The steel door and frame will also include a keypad. The door will come with a two year warranty. The door was needed to replace one that was not locking properly.

In other library business, the parking lot stripes will be painted. Kevin Price will do the painting for $320. The board took no action on the mowing schedule for the library.

In the police department, the board accepted the resignation of Kellie Farrar and agreed to hire Thomas Scott Fisher effective May 29 at $8 per hour. An interlocal agreement with the town of Salina was approved. The agreement would allow Salina to use the Locust Grove dispatch at a cost of $800 per month.

The police department also requested purchasing an eight-channel video recording system to be used in the jail and booking area. The system will come from In and Out Thrift Mart at a cost of $2,500 from the jail account.

Officer Nate Cooper will attend a training by Desert Snow, LLC, in Muskogee. The board approved paying $990 for a four-day class in August. Chief Nathan Raith said he budgets $1,000 for training each year but usually finds free training classes.

Dirt work was approved for Earl Smith Road. The bid for the work went to Ball Construction for $16,000. Action was tabled on the purchase of street lights for Bear Street and the town’s budget.

In new business, Fire Chief Rob Foreman requested permission from the board to send a letter to a property owner. Foreman said a structure fire at 612 East Main is under investigation. The fire left the property a safety hazard. He would like to request the owner of the property to attend the next meeting to discuss possible condemnation proceedings.

During the Public Works Authority meeting, the board heard from citizens during the public comments portion of the meeting. Concerns about water outages, bills and charcoal shavings in a customer’s water filter were addressed.

PWA manager Odie Butler, Jr., gave the board an update on the recent replacement of water valves.

“If there is a water break in town, 82 can stay on,” said Butler.

The PWA employees worked a night shift to install the valve. The department chose the night shift so that the town would not be without water during a time when the water usage is high.

A customer discussed an increase in his bill. The board informed the customer that the billing date had been 40 instead of 30 which may have caused the increase. Another customer reported finding metal shavings in the cold water filter on his washing machine. He said his washing machine was broken after a recent outage. He had it repaired and found the shavings. After investigating the shavings it was determined to be charcoal used during the treatment of the water.

Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member Meredith Frailey offered help to the board from the Nation. Frailey said she was there to observe and find out if there was something Cherokee Nation could do to help the town.

In regular business, the board tabled action on accepting bids for a bucket truck. A 1999 Dodge pickup will be repaired by Ronnie Noble for $500.

Bids on reading the water meters was tabled. The board approved repairing a filter at the water plant. The repair will cost $17,590 and done by Wynn Construction.

Money for the repair will come from the water and sewer improvement fund.

“This is something I was notified by DEQ that has to be done,” said Mayor Terry Starling.

George Tipton with USDA Rural Development also addressed the board on the state of the water plant. He provided grant and loan options to upgrade the plant.

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