The Meeker Town Board of Trustees Monday night approved the recent resignation of its Vice Mayor Carl Cornett.
Cornett submitted his letter of resignation from the Town Board of Trustees, citing health concerns as the reason.
Cornett’s resignation was submitted in a letter to Town officials Thursday, Feb. 27,effective immediately.
Cornett’s letter reads, “To Whom It May Concern, I, Carl Cornett, must resign from my position on the Town of Meeker Board of Trustees due to unforeseen health problems.
“I would like to give my deepest apologies to not only my colleagues but also to all the people in our town that voted for me and gave me the opportunity in the first place. It was an honor to even be chosen and I am sorry that I have to let anyone down.”
Prior to Monday evening’s meeting, Meeker Town Clerk Mary Conner and Town Administrator Dickie Walton had explained the Board now has 60 days to appoint someone to fill Cornett’s Trustee position.
They explained if the Trustees do not appoint someone within that 60-day period, they must call a special election to fill it. That was reiterated during Monday night’s meeting.
Trustees indicated they wanted to appoint someone if possible and spare the town the cost of an election. Walton said Monday night the last special election cost the town nearly $3,000.
Walton told the board interest had been expressed to him about the position.
Whoever is appointed or elected would serve the three remaining years of Cornett’s four-year term.
Cornett was one of four persons elected April 2, 2019 to serve on the Board of Trustees. The others elected at that time were Rick Hill, Donna Weber and Cheryl Buoy who was reelected.
In September last year, shortly after the Board voted to remove Buoy from her vice mayor position due to her not attending a required class within a year of her initial appointment, the Trustees voted to elect Cornett as the Vice Mayor.
Walton announced that the Meeker Library is closed until further notice due to Coronavirus concerns. Librarian Delanya Wofford will remain working, he explained, working on inventory, cleaning and doing her normal duties. She is a part-time employee, he noted.
Walton also announced that a kickoff meeting on the Quapaw project is scheduled in Stillwater for Thursday morning and officials will be in Meeker at the site on Friday this week. He said that was as of Monday evening if it’s not changed due to the COVID-19 concerns.
Meeker will be the sponsor of the project, he told Trustees.
The board approved purchasing a 35 horsepower Kawasaki Bob-Cat Predator Pro 7000, 61-inch cut mower to replace the mower destroyed by fire. The town is purchasing the mower from Wright Tractors LLC for $9,399 and using the insurance settlement of $2,750 reducing the price to $6,649.
During Monday evening’s meeting, the consent agenda was approved. Among the items were:
-Approval of Meeker Animal Hospital to hold its annual Small Animal Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, April 18.
-Acceptance of a $10,000 grant from Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group for Body Worn Video Cameras for the Meeker Police Department.
-Approval of payment of $13,815 to purchase Body Worn Cameras for the Police Department from Wolfcom.
-Approval of allowing Chad Walker, 106164 S. Dawson, Meeker, to construct a 1,800 square foot barn as approved by the Planning Commission March 12 this year.
-Approval of MaxWalker, 106726 S. Highway 18 to construct a new shop building as approved by the Planning Commission March 12 this year.
-Approving a Proclamation declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month and approval of a resolution declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month.
In other business, the Trustees:
-Discussed the proper procedure for the chain of command regarding after hour complaints and circumstances reported to board members and from board members. The item was on the Public Works Authority agenda too.
-Tabled renewing the Meeker Youth Sports Association Agreement at the Meeker Lake. Association officials told Walton they were still working on details.
-Walton told Trustees the DEQ has approved Meeker as a burn site but only town employees are allowed to burn at that site. Torn down dilapidated structures may also be burned there, DEQ informed Walton.
-Under new business, it was discussed allowing Walton to decide on a case by case basis of not turning off utilities due to those impacted by the Coronavirus.