Sallisaw Approves AOG Request to Combine Test Stations

At a short meeting Monday evening, Sallisaw City Commissioners approved a request for an easement by Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. (AOG).

Keith Miller, the city Building Development director, explained AOG wants to remove two test stations and establish only one location on the east side of Jay Reynolds Park. Miller said AOG said they would do most of the work, which will move the test station further off the road. The commissioners and staff said the plan was a winning situation for both the city and AOG, and the request was approved.

The commissioners, by a vote of three to two, denied a request by Keith Skelton, interim city manager, to hire a part-time customer service representative. Skelton made the request, as he explained, because of the heavy customer service load that was interfering with other work responsibilities.

But commissioners argued two points. Ward 2 Commissioner Ro Poindexter said there were not enough facts presented to warrant hiring a representative. Ward 1 Commissioner Ronnie Lowe said there was too much turn over in the city staff. Poindexter, Lowe and Mayor Jim Hudgens voted against the hire, while Ward 3 Commissioner Julian Mendiola and Ward 4 Commissioner Daryl Legg voted for the request.

The commissioners also:

-acknowledged the city election results from the Feb. 13 election;

-approved a Mutual Aid Agreement between the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Sallisaw

-took no action on the residency requirement for city employees, and left the residency requirement as is, at a 20-minute response time.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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