The Meeker Town Board appointed a new mayor Monday night and members also approved raises and bonuses for all full time and part-time employees.
The Board voted unanimously to appoint Vice Mayor Donna Weber as the new mayor. Weber has been acting mayor since Oct. 21 when Jeff Wilbourn stepped down as the mayor to become the new Town Administrator.
Following the vote, which came late dur ing the meeting, Weber thanked the Trustees for what she said “was the confidence in her.”
The board at the beginning of the meeting had officially voted to accept Wilbourn’s resignation from the Town Board of
Trustees.
Wilbourn’s stepping down to become administrator leaves a vacancy on the board. The meeting’s agenda had an item indicating the Trustees would appoint Mike Melton to fill the vacancy.
Melton is both a former board member and Town Administrator. But he failed to show up for Monday night’s meeting so the Trustees tabled the item.
Also, the Trustees indi cated they would appoint a new vice mayor at next month’s meeting.
Following about a 35-minute executive session, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve raises and bonuses for all General full time and part-time employees. Later meeting as the Public Works Authority, without an executive session, they took the same action for all full time PWA employees.
When asked how much the raises and bonuses were, Weber responded, “At least $1 an hour for everyone.”
She added that all full time employees would receive $300 bonuses and parttime employees would receive $150 bo nuses.
Trustee Aaron Head said of both, “Yes, it’s in the budget.”
The Trustees also voted in June to approve three percent raises for all employees.
Trustees voted to allow Sagemill Construction LLC to build an RV and Boat Store at 106862 S. Highway 18 in Meeker.
Following a brief discussion, they decided to have Wilbourn take over the Planning Commission duties and bring it up at the next meeting if they will continue with a Planning Commission. They said that will allow them time to determine if a Planning Commission is required by ordinance.
They approved the lease agreement from Vision Bank to lease-purchase two police cars. Then they adopted a resolution regarding the lease-purchase agreement to procure equipment/cars for the Police Department.
In other business, the Trustees: Tabled an item about water usage of Growth and Development for the Meeker Community Garden.
Declared as surplus a 2005 Ford Victoria Crown Vic.
Agreed to reimburse Meeker New Hope Cemetery Association $945 for mowing the cemetery.
Tabled three items about allowing Wilbourn to participate in the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund agreement.
Amended an ordinance regarding Itinerant Vendors and approved the emergency clause.
Amended an ordinance to allow combining the titles of Town Clerk and Town Treasurer and approved the emergency clause.
Took no action on approving the Town Clerk to be the acting Town Administrator in his absence.
Meeting as the PWA, Trustees approved adding $2,000 to the already $15,000 they had approved earlier for the purchase of two sewer pumps for the sewer plant. That will also cover the shipment cost, Wilbourn advised them.
Without going into executive session, they accepted the resignation of Chad Rowan.