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Haileyville council approves school safety bid, hires clerk and closes part of Elliot Avenue
Summary
At its April 8 meeting, the Haileyville City Council unanimously approved a bid for a School Violence Protection Program, hired Thomas Howell as clerk/treasurer at $15 per hour, appointed Danny Karr to Ward 1B and voted to close Elliot Avenue beyond 8th Street; the council also approved Air Medivac insurance for the police department.
The Haileyville City Council met April 8, 2025, at Haileyville City Hall and voted unanimously on a package of routine and personnel measures, including accepting a bid for a School Violence Protection Program, hiring a new clerk/treasurer and authorizing a partial street closure.
Roger Hemphill, identified in the meeting as the school superintendent, told the council two grants related to the School Violence Protection Program had already been approved. Hemphill said the district did not want bulletproof windows and preferred installing metal doors instead. The council later voted to accept the School Violence Protection Program bid on a 7-0 roll call.
The council took several personnel and administrative actions. Vicki Allen moved and the council approved the appointment of Danny Karr to Ward 1B to fill the stated vacancy. Following an executive session to discuss hiring, the council voted to hire Thomas Howell as clerk/treasurer at $15.00 per hour and to swear in newly appointed officials; both actions passed 7-0. Mayor Catherine Bailey-Morgan also urged the council to designate a bank card holder for First National Bank account 1100149; the council voted to designate Thomas Howell as the card holder, 7-0.
Other council business approved unanimously included a motion to close Elliot Avenue beyond 8th Street and a motion to approve Air Medivac insurance for the Haileyville Police Department. Throughout the meeting, council members conducted routine roll-call votes on motions to approve the previous meeting minutes and to pay March 2025 bills; both motions passed 7-0.
Public-safety reports delivered at the meeting outlined recent department activity. Chief Mathis reported 62 citations, 32 calls, 20 assists to Hartshorne, 12 assists to the sheriff, 4 assists to OHP, 3 ambulance assists and 2 fire responses. Interim Fire Chief Bobby Morrow reported two Haileyville grass fires, two vehicle fires, 28 fire assists, four structure fires, 16 grass fires, three rescues and five other responses.
The council also agreed to revisit the question of reinstating Kevin Mick as fire chief of the Haileyville Volunteer Fire Department; Vicki Allen moved to reconvene on that possibility and the motion passed 7-0. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Bailey-Morgan at 8:51 PM.
Votes at a glance
- Approve minutes (April 8, 2025 meeting): Passed, roll call 7-0. - Pay March 2025 bills: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Appoint Danny Karr to Ward 1B (vacancy): Passed, roll call 7-0. - Swear in newly appointed officials: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Hire Thomas Howell as clerk/treasurer at $15.00/hour: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Consider reinstating Kevin Mick as HVFD fire chief (motion to reconvene on possibility): Passed, roll call 7-0. - Close Elliot Avenue beyond 8th St.: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Accept bid for School Violence Protection Program: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Approve Air Medivac insurance for Haileyville Police Department: Passed, roll call 7-0. - Designate Thomas Howell as First National Bank card holder (acct. 1100149): Passed, roll call 7-0.
The council recorded unanimous votes on all motions taken during the meeting; no votes, abstentions or failures were reported in the minutes provided. The council will consider the fire chief reinstatement matter at a future reconvened session.
