The Vian Board of Trustees took several key actions during its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 20, including approving the town’s designation as a Purple Heart Town and officially taking over this year’s Christmas parade.

Trustees voted unanimously to begin the process of becoming a Purple Heart Town and to approve a proclamation formalizing the honor. The designation recognizes and honors military members wounded or killed in combat who have received the Purple Heart medal.

The board also voted to take over coordination of the annual Vian Christmas Parade, previously organized by the Vian Lions Club. The event is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, with this year’s theme set as “Christmas Through the Decades.”

In other business, trustees approved an Inmate Housing Contract with the Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s Office and accepted a REAP FY 2026 grant award of $68,000 for sanitary sewer system improvements at the lift station located at 200 Alpha Road.

Board members also approved creating a shared email address to streamline the town’s open records request process. The address will be accessible to the court clerk, police chief, town administrator, town attorney, and legal staff to ensure compliance and coordination.

A motion passed to change Vian Municipal Court sessions from the second Tuesday of each month to the third Tuesday at 9 a.m., beginning in January 2026.

Reports from the police, fire, sanitation, streets, and parks departments were all approved, along with the treasurer’s report, fuel report and purchase orders. The board also voted to approve stipends for the town and the Vian Public Works Authority (VPWA), and to issue Christmas bonuses to eligible members of the Vian Volunteer Fire Department.

The Vian Youth League project and District 27 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force agreement were both tabled for future discussion.

During the VPWA meeting, the board voted to set the 2026 meeting time at 6:30 p.m., to coincide with the town’s regular meetings.

Members later entered executive session to discuss pending litigation involving the Sequoyah County Water Association vs. ViPWA (Case #CJ-2025-26). No action was taken following the closed session, with the meeting adjourning at 9:13 p.m.

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.