At the Jan. 12 meeting of the Town Trustees in Inola, the drainage problem on Commercial Street was again discussed but City Engineer Brian Kellogg said further studies needed to be done. This has been an ongoing flooding problem for some of the residents and businesses since the raising of the elevation of the road.

Kellogg also reported on the sewer project. He said it would stay just below the $1.8 million budget. While making changes to the layout of the discharge line per the request of AEP/PSO, the upgrades were reworked by Kellogg Engineering to reduce the number of lift stations allowing upgrades to the lagoon system itself. So, while the project budget remains largely unchanged, the scope of the project will include needed repairs and upgrades to the lagoons themselves in addition to relocating the discharge location as requested by the Town’s DEQ consent order. The Town’s lagoon system was due for upgrades in 2010 and this will now allow that date to be pushed back.

Mayor Cheryl Charles reported that she had received a resume for someone interested in the town administrator position and gave the information to the other trustees for their review.

Two of the town trustee seats will expire this year and Feb. 2, 3 and 4 will be the filing dates for interested parties. Trent Bynum and Shane McNichol will need to refile for their seats and there is another seat to be filled created when Tyler Brown moved out of town.

The treasurer’s seat, now occupied by Glennie Spurlock, will also be voted on. Voting will be April 7. Three seats on the Inola Planning Commission are still vacant.

It was noted that Inola Volunteer Animal Rescue (IVAR) had met with the town trustees and the city personnel regarding animal control. No decisions regarding that meeting were discussed other than the maintenance personnel will hold the dogs picked up for three to five days before they are turned over to IVAR and needed a holding pen. Greg Brockman, maintenance supervisor, said it will cost approximately $6,000 to build because of the concrete that they would need. Trustee Larry Grigg commented that this cost seemed to be excessive.

Approval was given on a lease-purchase agreement between the Town of Inola and 1st Bank Oklahoma for two new police vehicles from Hudiburg Auto Group in the amount of $20,373.00 each at the rate of 4.45 percent. Resolution R-09-01 will be adopted authorizing this purchase.

In the mayor’s report she advised that all holiday flowers need to be picked up from the Inola cemeteries.