Meeker’s Town Board of Trustees this week, meeting as the Public Works Authority, approved a rate increase from Central Disposal.
With the increase, the Town will pay $11.20 for one polycart with once a week residential curbside pickup and $1.25 for once a month curbside bulky waste collection.
Town administrator Jeff Wilbourn said the town is currently paying $8.30 for the once a week residential curbside pickup and $1.25 for once a month curbside bulky waste collection.
Meeting as the PWA, the Trustees also agreed to pay $4,054 for the Worker’s Compensation Premium for 2022-2023.
Once Trustees resumed meeting as the Town Board, they approved using ARPA funds in the amount of $36,713 to purchase a 2022 Dodge Charger as a new police car. The price also includes equipping the unit and the motion stated this was in lieu of a lease purchase contract with Vision Bank.
The Trustees took no action to lease purchase a fire truck for the Meeker Fire Department.
The item had been tabled at their June 21 meeting.
Then, they voted to table the purchase of a fire truck for the Meeker Fire Department with American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds.
Without going into executive session, Trustees accepted the resignation of part-time Police Officer Dusty Stevens; moved Reserve Officer Clay Cleary to part-time police officer; hired Rick Wright as part-time mower; and voted to give Diana Rodgers an additional responsibility of grant administrator, changing her job duties and giving her the title of Office Assistant/Grant Administrator.
Trustees agreed to an application for a possible grant for project sponsorship for a transportation alternative program with the safe route to school program.
Police Chief Trent Norton explained this is for a sidewalk and crosswalk at the elementary school.
Trustees also adopted a resolution for the sponsorship for the program.
They approved a purchase order to Future Pro for $4,177 to purchase two basketball goals for Glenn Crest Park and Homestead Park.
Wibourn advised Trustees these are steel basketball goals that are sturdy.
They also approved a purchase order to Willy Goat LLC for $9,400 to purchase playground equipment for Homestead Park.
These are also made of steel, Wilbourn told Trustees.
They agreed to pay $13,859.50 for the Worker’s Compensation premium for 2022-2023.
In his report, Wilbourn discussed the OG&E franchise election to be held on Aug. 23. He pointed out every 25 years OG&E is required to hold a franchise election and the franchise fee doesn’t increase anyone’s electric bill or taxes.
He said the Town receives around $50,000 annually from OG&E and that the utility company has paid more than $77,000 in property taxes to support local public schools over the last six years.
In other business, local citizen and former member of the Trustees Jeff Eulberg addressed and discussed with the Trustees dilapidated structures and what possible actions could be taken.
Trustees also approved a building permit to build a deck at 201 E. Green Street in Meeker.