Meeker’s Town Board this week officially canceled the annexation public hearing that was scheduled for next Monday night, Aug. 23, and decided the next step.
The board voted not to reschedule the public hearing until the letters have been prepared and in the possession of the Town Clerk Mary Conner.
Conner explained at Monday evening’s meeting, “A special meeting will be needed to set a date for the public hearing once we receive the letters from the attorney so we can place that date in the letters.”
She advised the board, “The envelopes are addressed and ready to mail once we get the letters.”
Mayor Jeff Wilbourn at this week’s meeting asserted, “This needs to get done. There’s been a lot of fumbles on this. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus.
“The attorney has to step up and do the job that is required,” he added. “I’m not going to accept any more excuses.”
One couple showed up just prior to Monday evening’s meeting starting, inquiring about the public hearing and when questions could be asked.
Town Administrator Dickie Walton advised the hearing was not going to be held next week, that a date wouldn’t be set during Monday night’s meeting and assured the couple they would receive notification when it was to be held.
The public hearing now has been canceled three times since June.
In their meeting in May, the Trustees had set the public hearing for 6:30 p.m. on June 28 that was canceled.
At their meeting in June, they had to reschedule the public hearing for 6 p.m. July 26. Again, it was canceled.
In the July 19 meeting, Hodgens took full responsibility for not getting notices out to the property owners and providing the legal notice that is required to be published.
During that meeting, the Trustees unanimously agreed to hold the hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23 at the Meeker Town Hall.
“It’s my fault,” he told the board. “Pick a date and I’ll get it out,” he further advised them.
Vice Mayor Donna Weber asked him then, “you promise?” Hodgens replied, “yes.”
Weber had announced about two weeks ago next Monday night’s hearing was canceled and the issue would be on the agenda for this week’s Aug. 16 meeting. Wilbourn was out of town at the time so Weber as vice mayor made the announcement.
This time it had to be canceled because the Trustees’ legal counsel James Hodgens reportedly is battling COVID-19 and hasn’t been able to send out the required notification to property owners or place the legal notice in the newspaper.
He was still unable to attend Monday night’s board meeting.
Walton has explained the proposal is to annex eight square miles around the Meeker Lake area.
The annexation would include all of Section 19, part of Section 20, all of Sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 35, 36 and part of 32.
Town officials said there are approximately 348 property owners within the boundaries of the proposed annexation.
Hodgens has explained each one of those property owners has to be notified of the public hearing within a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 30 days of the public hearing.
In other business, Walton reminded the board the Fireworks show that had to be canceled on July 3 due to wet grounds at Meeker Lake is now scheduled for this Saturday evening, Aug. 21, a the lake.
He said vendors begin moving in at 5 p.m., kiddie games and other activities are from 7-9 p.m. and the fireworks start at dark.
Also Monday night, the board went into executive session for about 35 minutes to interview Josiah Romano, a candidate to replace former Trustee Rick Hill who resigned in July.
Returning from executive session, Wilbourn announced no action would be taken as Trustees still have one more candidate to interview.
Trustees tabled two ordinances until they receive them from the attorney.
They set Trick or Treat Night for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Meeting as the Public Works Authority, Trustees adopted a resolution for a Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Walton said the grant application seeks $150,000.