Taft trustees fight over seats

By Donna Hales
Phoenix Staff Writer

May 09, 2009 10:06 pm

— Taft town trustees are in a tussle over whether two of the five members remain as trustees.
Trustee Lelia Davis said neither Eugene Curl nor Patricia Springs will be listed as a trustee in the upcoming Monday Taft Town Board Meeting.
Taft’s Town Board most recent meeting was called off when Curl, now living in Haskell, contended he remained a trustee until he submitted his resignation.
Davis said she had left Curl’s name off the agenda as a trustee after he married Debbie Curl, the Taft postmaster, and they moved to Haskell.
Curl still owns a home in Taft, but it is now occupied by one of his relatives, Davis said.
Curl could not be reached for comment. The phone number listed for him is no longer a working number. As of Friday, there was no phone listing in Haskell for Eugene or Debbie Curl.
Davis said Curl’s refusal to vacate his office is causing problems because Curl signed town checks this week, although the law says he is no longer a trustee.
The Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office provided copies of state law that states:
“A municipal elected official shall be a resident and a registered voter of the municipality in which he serves, and all council members or trustees from wards shall be actual resident of their respective wards. If an elected official ceases to be a resident of the municipality, he shall thereupon cease to be an elected official of that municipality.”
Moore said the law speaks for itself.
Another Taft trustee’s position apparently also is vacated, according to another state law.
Davis said Springs and her husband have been living in Atlanta, Ga., since December, mostly because of Patricia Springs’ illness.
Springs wrote trustees requesting a 90-day leave of absence in December, which was granted, Davis said.
But the 90 days is long past, and the position is vacant, Davis said.
State law bears that out.
Moore provided copies of that law: “Whenever a member of the municipal governing body is absent from more than one-half of all meetings of the governing body, regular and special, held within any period of four (4) consecutive months, he shall thereupon cease to hold office.”

Reach Donna Hales at 684-2923 or dhales @muskogeephoenix.com.