In a productive regular meeting held on July 16, Gore’s Board of Trustees addressed a range of important issues and made several key decisions, which included a full agenda of approvals and discussions for both the town and public works authority.

Among actions taken, the board unanimously approved the purchase of a new Kubota 60-inch diesel zero-turn commercial mower to enhance town maintenance capabilities, along with the approval of a software quote. They also green-lit a 3.2 percent costof- living adjustment (COLA) raise for town employees, reflecting a commitment to fair compensation.

Following a motion from Mayor Robin Henry, the board also unanimously voted to acknowledge the receipt of a permit regarding surface water treatment plant improvements and new meters for the distribution system, during the Gore Public Works Authority (GPWA) meeting.

Further, the trustees approved several agreements, including the 2025 Forestry Grant application, a storage agreement for Gore Little League Football, and the 2024-25 School Resource Officer (SRO) contract.

Additionally, the DOCServices agreement was endorsed, aimed at improving town operations.

During an executive session for the town, the trustees made personnel decisions, hiring Lethia McLaughlin and Bret Visor to the police department. During the GPWA meeting, the board voted to hire Jacom Lane for the water department.

GPWA Administrator Jeremy Lane reported an 18 percent water loss for the previous month, along with four water leaks and water pressure issues.

Town Clerk Lisa Settlemyre provided updates on community concerns, including the missing head of Fabio the Rock Snake and upcoming plans for a “Movie in the Park” event once the temperature cools down.

Settlemyre encouraged anyone who knew about Fabio’s missing head to please return it.

It was also noted that the fee box was now completed at Summers Ferry.

During the police and fire chief reports, recent activity and service calls were highlighted, underscoring ongoing community safety efforts. The police department issued 13 citations for the previous month, along with 21 warnings, while Settlemyre reportedly collected $1,311.50 in citation payments. Additionally, the department reported 118 stops, 63 service calls and 33 other calls.

The fire department reported 24 calls since their last meeting, which included 21 emergency response calls, two storm responses and one brush fire.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the police officer and firefighter oath, demonstrating the town’s commitment to uphold public service standards.

This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.