By Liz McMahan
Assistant City Editor
September 03, 2008 12:22 am
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Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Moore said his office will make a decision this week on whether to file criminal charges against former Fort Gibson Utilities Supervisor Chris Gauntt.
Gauntt is alleged to have pawned an $1,800 power washer, a steel pole saw and a laptop computer, valued at $800 each and owned by the town, according to officials.
Police Chief Joe Hughart said Gauntt has given a written statement admitting to the theft of the items.
Gauntt’s resignation was accepted at the Aug. 11 meeting of the town board of trustees.
Hughart said his office began investigating the missing items after he and other officials were tipped off that Gauntt may have pawned city property.
Hughart said the investigation revealed Gauntt had signed pawn slips in Muskogee and Tahlequah for the three missing items.
Town Administrator Kathryn Carson said the town has recovered the power washer.
Hughart said the pole saw and computer have not been recovered.
Town Attorney Don Lewis said the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has reported Gauntt was delinquent in making water quality reports to them.
He said the deficiencies do not indicate there is any problem with the town’s water quality.
Carson said all test reports reflect the town’s water is safe.
At its meeting Aug. 25, the board of trustees named Larry Dale Cooper as utilities supervisor.
In that role, he will supervise town employees working outside of the town hall — those in water treatment, wastewater treatment and laborers working in parks, streets and other areas.
Cooper, 49, is a graduate of Fort Gibson High School and was a volunteer firefighter for several years before becoming fire chief.
He receives $39,640.64 as fire chief and will be paid $20,359.36 for his utility supervisor job, for a total of $60,000, Carson said.
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