In its regular meeting held on August 20, the town of Gore’s board of trustees took action on a variety of issues, from financial approvals to staffing changes and event announcements.
The session commenced with Gore Public School Superintendent Lucky McCrary addressing the board about the upcoming school bond vote scheduled for Aug. 27, while Townsil Lane discussed employment-related allegations.
Significant discussions centered around the 2025 Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD) Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Grant. Both the grant application and the associated resolution were approved, reflecting the town’s commitment to securing funding for local projects.
An executive session was convened to address personnel matters, specifically regarding Lane and Colt Oliver. Following the closed session, the trustees voted to terminate Lane’s employment, and Bret Visor was approved for hiring to fill Oliver’s vacancy.
In other business, town clerk Lisa Settlemyre provided updates on upcoming community events. The “Day In The Park” was rescheduled to October 5 due to a conflict with ball games, while the “Gory Gore Parade” will embrace a “Despicable Me” theme, with Gore’s Vice-Mayor Larry Pack set to portray Gru.
Additionally, Settlemyre announced a $39,000 donation from Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor E.O. “Jr.” Smith and the Cherokee Nation for the construction of a new pickleball court.
Reports from both the police and fire chiefs highlighted the town’s ongoing public safety efforts. The police department recorded 185 calls, 11 citations, and five warnings in July, while the fire department reported 40 calls, including a structure fire, brushfire, and multiple medical emergencies.
Unfortunately, the town’s recent application for the 80/20 Forestry Grant for 2025 was unsuccessful due to receiving the grant in the previous year.
During the Gore Public Works Authority (GPWA) meeting, the trustees approved a resolution for a copper and lead survey.
All GPWA customers can receive a one time $5 credit on their bill if they complete the survey by Sept. 20. To access the survey, customers can go to www. townofgoreok.gov/leadcopper-survey/ or to the Public Works page of the Town of Gore’s official website.
The board also approved a $345.34 signon bonus for employee Jacom Lane, while also granting him a raise, moving his hourly wage to $14 per hour.
The meeting concluded with Settlemyre reporting a 15 percent water loss for the previous month, along with three water leaks.
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.
