LOCUST GROVE — Shawn Bates is once again the mayor of Locust Grove. After former Mayor Vickie Herr resigned her position, Bates took over the mayoral role until a new mayor is appointed by the board of trustees.

During a special meeting of the Town of Locust Grove, Monday, July 26, the board appointed Bates as the mayor and trustee Heath Holman as vice mayor. Since April 2006, the position of mayor has been held by four people, with Bates in the role twice.

In other business:

• The board removed former office manager, Crystal Harms, as the deputy clerk. Leah Hurry will take over the deputy city clerk role and will assist city clerk Tamatha Ogilvie at city hall.

• The board approved requesting office personnel from Cherokee Nation. Hurry said she would contact Cherokee Nation to see about getting part-time help at no cost to the town.

• Action was tabled on insurance coverage with Brown & Brown Insurance Agency in Pryor.

• Police vehicle unit #4 will be repaired. A fan blade broke and busted the radiator. The cost to fix the vehicle is $1,141.70 and the money will come from the public safety fund. A claim will be filed with the town’s insurance. When the insurance pays the claim, the money will go back to public safety.

• The board tabled hiring a full-time police officer and full-time dispatcher. It also tabled action regarding a city ordinance for abandoned/junk vehicles.

• A new tire will be purchased for the backhoe. The tire will cost $525 from Southern Tire. The money will come from the street and alley fund.

In a special meeting of the Public Works Authority, the board tabled the hiring of a new PWA superintendent. The board agreed to advertise the position with the Oklahoma Rural Water Association and will begin interviews with those who have already applied.

A policy that allowed water customers to make pay arrangements was changed. In the past a customer could contact city hall to make payment arrangements on their bill. The policy stated that the customer could not ask for assistance again for two years. The board agreed to change the

policy to one year.