The Meeker Town Board of Trustees this week adopted a resolution calling for an election granting a franchise to Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. for 25 years.
Purpose of granting the franchise is to allow the continued installation, operation and maintenance of an electric distribution system and the selling of electricity as OG&E has done the past 25 years.
The election will be Tuesday, Aug. 23, coinciding with the primary runoff elections throughout Lincoln County and across Oklahoma.
Prior to adopting the resolution, the Trustees adopted an ordinance granting to OG&E a franchise for the installation, operation and maintenance of an electric distribution and the selling of electricity for 25 years.
Kimberly Adams, with OG&E, explained to the Trustees “that the ordinance is required by state law to renew the agreement allowing us to come in and work 24/7 on our infrastructure.”
She emphasized there is no tax on the citizens. “OG&E does remit a three percent franchise fee back to the Town of Meeker,” she noted.
She said the election is “so citizens can approve it.” In other action, the Trustees, without going into executive session, voted 4-1 to take Librarian Delanya Wolford from part-time to full-time employee for the Town of Meeker effective July 1 this year.
Following discussion, Trustee Lanny Thompson made the motion and Trustee Mike Orman seconded it. Joining in favor were Mayor Donna Weber and Trustee Mike Melton.
Vice Mayor Aaron Head voted in opposition, indicating he wanted to wait until closer to the start of the new fiscal year.
Trustees also hired Skyler Reynolds as part-time maintenance and mower for the Town of Meeker effective April 11, 2022.
The Trustees voted unanimously in revising the Employee Handbook, completely removing the times of operation for the Town employees from it.
They also adopted an ordinance amending the employee retirement system, Defined Benefit Plan for the Town, providing retirement benefits for eligible employees of the Town and the Joinder Agreement.
Approved a contract with the Meeker Little League, Baseball and Softball Association.
Listened to Jeff Eulberg discuss his concerns about dilapidated structures in Meeker.
Set fees to be charged to advertise on the digital sign located at the Meeker Police Department at 202 W. Carl Hubbell.
They tabled until next month amending an ordinance to add the digital sign fees.
Agreed to not repair some police units.
Agreed to surplus several items including three police units, a video cassette player, 13-inch television, 26-inch television, an Epson Dot Matrix printer and a Brother Laser Ink Printer.
It was explained that sealed bids will needed to be taken on each item.
Meeting as the Public Works Authority, they requested an ordinance be drawn on charging a new account deposit for citizens wanting trash service only.
They also approved retaining water deposits left by citizens who leave no forwarding address after stopping service resulting in un-cashed checks from PWA and follow state statutes having the money placed back in the PWA fund.