Trustees appoint vice mayor, vote to increase monthly pay

The Webbers Falls Board of Trustees met three times in February where they appointed a new vice mayor, accepted bids, approved the raise and sell of burial plots at a local cemetery, and voted to increase monthly trustee pay.

In the Feb. 14 meeting, the trustees voted to appoint Danny Haley as the town’s new vice mayor and to the East Central Oklahoma Gas Authority board.

The board accepted MGS Construction Services’ bid for $68,909, which includes repairs and maintenance to the Webbers Falls Police Department and replacing the sign in front of City Hall.

They also accepted a bid from Diamond Gutter Company in the amount of $2,315 for guttering on the Webbers Falls Fire Department.

Police Chief Wayne Cartwright went over his monthly report, followed by the fire report from Fire Chief Shawn Smith. Smith said fire calls have been at a minimum and the department has purchased a side-by-side.

After some discussion on whether or not to approve a pay rate increase for the trustees of the town, the board took no action. They decided to table selling plots at Vaught Cemetery and HCA appraisal changes to be made to the town’s property insurance premiums, until the next meeting.

Doug Walton presented updates on the Safe Routes to School, which will include new speed limit signs and pedestrian crossing signs where needed. The Webbers Falls symbol will also be painted on the streets leading to the school and pickup line. However, the trustees voted to take no action on the line item.

Following a short executive session, the board reconvened and announced they were taking no action on Shawn Smith but they agreed to give clerk Norma Griffith an extra week of vacation each year in lieu of a raise.

Nannette Oldfield approached the board during the public speaking portion of the meeting, asking to hold Webbers Falls Day in the Park on June 10. She asked the town not to allow camping in the park that Friday and Saturday, but the board agreed that was not possible. The trustees instead asked her to get with the park host and work out something so there’d be room for the vendors and other entertainment that day.

Shane Robinson reported in city maintenance that town workers are getting things ready for mowing season and to start trimming trees around town.

During a Feb. 21 special meeting of the board, no action was taken on increasing the mayor’s pay but the trustees were given the green light to raise the price of burial plots at Vaught Cemetery to $200 per plot and to begin selling them, according to meeting minutes.

Jewel Hall and John Morgan approached the board and told them why they were interested in being part of the board, with the trustees voting to appoint Hall to replace David Chase.

In a Feb. 27 special meeting, a motion was made by Hall to increase trustee pay to $600 per month. Since no one seconded the motion, discussion continued on the line item until a motion was made by Pollard and then seconded by Haley, to increase trustee pay instead to $300 per month, with all trustees voting yes.