Bobby Elmore

After an executive session Monday night, Purcell’s City Council voted to remove the interim tag on Bobby Elmore’s title.

He accepted the offer to take over as city manager beginning in October when he plans to retire from the police department.

Also coming out of the executive session at the Purcell Police Department Community Room was an extension to the treasurer’s contract for Wynn Tyson-Kramer.

The contract will be from year to year.

To begin the meeting, the council honored native son, Henderson “Bubba” Cheadle, who died in 2002.

Council members and the audience were shown a video featuring quotes about Bubba from members of the community.

His twin sister, Jan Cook, was also in attendance for the video and to hear a proclamation read by Mayor Graham Fishburn.

Their birthday is March 5. They were born in 1954. And, she nicknamed him because she couldn’t say “brother.”

Several funny Bubba stories were also shared at the meeting.

The board approved interim City Manager Bobby Elmore to sign documents relating to the Purcell Airport in the absence of trustees.

The council amended the city’s ordinance with respect to animals at the shelter whose owners are incarcerated and approved entering into a contract with Axon for police equipment for $453,059.28 or $90,612 annually. The new contract is for new equipment and software that will save the city $21,986 per contract.

This is for 10 new tasers, body cameras and storage.

“The DA’s office likes this because it strengthens transparency and you  have proof with cameras,” Elmore said.

The new tasers will replace tasers that are 12 years old.

Elmore also informed the board that Trey Phillips has taken a job with the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.

“He has given us 15 years of dedicated service and now we have to consider who we want to move forward to take his place,” Elmore said.

Possible candidates, all with public works experience, are being interviewed.

The board took no action on setting up payments with Purcell Municipal Hospital for utilities.

Before making a decision, council members said the hospital is putting together a long-term plan.

In the Purcell Public Works portion of the meeting, trustees approved payment of $29,900 to TLS Group, Inc., to replace video detection system and traffic control at Grant and Green that was destroyed in a traffic accident. An insurance claim has been filed for the funds.

The annual audit was presented by Bob Dillon and Associates.

The audit was reported as clean and it was noted the city has a carry over of 46 percent of annual revenues, which is an impressive figure, auditors said.

Board members present included Tara Phillips, Jay Tate, Mayor Graham Fishburn, Bobby Bruehl and Greg Wheat.

During his remarks, Elmore said the new traffic signals on North Green Avenue, near where the high school and junior high schools are located, will be installed next week.