Condemnation hearings, adding a final member to the flood plain board and changing the date of the regular monthly meeting were all items on the Town of Locust Grove meeting, Monday, Oct. 12.

The board approved the condemnation of the Paul Heflin property located at 612 E. Main. The property is partially burned and considered dangerous.

“It is a health hazard, public nuisance and a health issue,” said Fire Chief Rob Foreman. “I recommend demolishing it.”

Police Chief Nathan Raith said they have had to run kids out of the building and have found runaways on the property.

The town will go out for bids to have the building demolished. Requirements will be available through the town’s attorney John Crockett.

A fifth member was appointed to the flood plain board. David Fishinghawk was appointed to the final four year term on the board. He will join Jona Robison, Barbara Smith, Danny Dawson and Verla Fletcher. Robison and Smith will serve two-year terms. Dawson will serve a four-year term and Fletcher will serve a six-year term. Seats appointed from this point on will serve a six year term. The board accepted and approved the flood plain board resolution and appointed Joan Johnson as the flood plain administrator.

The regular monthly meetings of the town of Locust Grove will be moved to the third Monday of each month. The change in dates will take effect at the Dec. 21, meeting.

In other business:

• The board approved the purchase of a new door for the library not to exceed $2,100. The board approved a new door during the June regular meeting but the door was never purchased or installed.

• A resolution for adopting the National Incident Management System was approved.

• Tamatha Ogilvie’s 90-day review as the court clerk was approved. Ogilvie will receive a .50 cent raise to $11 per hour and is not a full-time employee.

• Misty Temple’s 90-day review as a dispatcher was also approved. Temple will be a non-probationary full-time employee and will get a .50 cent raise to $8.50 per hour.

• Dispatcher Cristina Stout will move from full time to part-time effective Oct. 15. Stout is taking a position at the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office.

• Chris Newkirk was hired as a part-time dispatcher. He is currently an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Dispatcher. He will start at $8.50 per hour.

• Police officer Terry Springwater was approved to attend a Glock Armorers course Nov. 10. Springwater will be certified to service the department’s eight pistols.

• A 2002 Ford Crown Victoria was surplused and will be taken to Chupp’s Auction to sell on the first Saturday of November.

• Two certificates of deposit for the Street and Alley Department have matured. The board approved choosing one to use on road work projects. The other will be put back into a three month CD.

• The board thanked many citizens in the Locust Grove area for helping the town with mowing and volunteering time. Klint Pursley Trucking donated five tons of sand recently to be made available in case of flooding. The sand is located on the southeast corner of the fire department. Residents must fill their own bags.

Some of the citizens who have helped with mowing and weed trimming are Christ Church, Ronnie Murrel, Wanda Hedges, Gary Coday, and several of the board members. Christ Church has taken on Pipe Springs as a community project and will care for the grounds.

John Sykes of Total Supply also donated his time and money to a project at the community building. Sykes donated an air conditioning unit to the building and the installation. The unit cost was $14,000. Cherokee Nation also helped by donating $1,000 toward the unit and installation.