The Meeker Town Board has approved the application process for a partial Community Development Block Grant to update the town’s Capital Improvement Planning.
Garey Knoles, CIP Coordinator for the Central Oklahoma Economic Development District (COEDD), explained the grant is for $20,000 for his agency to do most of the work for the update.
During a special meeting last week, the board adopted a resolution agreeing to seek the grant for the update.
The board appointed five people to serve on a Local Planning Activities Committee. They include board members Donna Weber, Rick Hill, Jeff Wilbourn, Town Administrator Dickie Walton and Police Officer Wade South.
Knoles said the committee will help develop the five year plan and at some point will hold a public hearing that will allow the citizens of Meeker to review the plan.
Board members also approved the following in connection with the grant.
A Citizens Participation Plan, Disclosure and Certification Form, A Fair Housing resolution, Residential Anti-Displacement and relocation assistant plan and Debarment Review and Certification.
On another issue, the board voted unanimously, 4-0, to replace the tower on the Quapaw Creek site during the rehabilitation of the dam on Meeker Lake.
Walton advised board members the price tag on replacement of the tower is estimated at $410,000.
“The money is already allocated in the project to replace the tower completely,” he said.
He informed the board that Valerie Glasgow, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, had told him the tower “doesn’t meet requirements.”
The board, in other action, approved purchase of new tasers for the Meeker Police Department from Axon Enterprises for $13,660. The board agreed to make one payment for the total amount, rather than pay it out over a five-year period.
Walton said the money is coming from the General Fund where he had $20,000 allocated for equipment and nothing has been spent from that amount so far this fiscal year.
He said donations which have been secured to offset much of the $13,660 expense will go back into the General Fund as they are received.
Board members voted to repeal a section of an ordinance regarding itinerant vendors, then also approved the emergency clause.
They then approved and changed the Itinerant Vendors Permit application requiring a Surety Bond payable to the Town of Meeker to cover any damages arising from conduct of a vendor while conducting the sale or exhibit in the town.