Okmulgee native Thomas “Tom” Payne spoke at the Okmulgee County Commissioners meeting Monday about a possible Okmulgee County memorial which would honor the area men killed in action.

“Some years ago, I became aware there was no memorial in Okmulgee County which honored the men killed in the wars fought by America,” Payne said. “I began to travel around Eastern Oklahoma looking for and photographing what had been done in many city and county seats.”

He presented several of these photos to the commissioners including one from Wagoner County which he was most impressed by. It was this style of memorial which Payne hopes to see erected in Okmulgee soon. The Wagoner monument was designed and built from Oklahoma rose-colored granite out of a quarry near Granite.

“I am proposing this commissioner body approve the installation of a granite memorial for the Okmulgee County citizens who died in the service of our country’s military,” Payne said. “Specifically, there would be approximately, 31 WWI, 157 WWII, 11 Korea, 12 Vietnam and two Afghanistan names of men from Okmulgee County. Those patriots deserve to be remembered by present and future generations.”

District 2 Commissioner Robert Hardridge agreed a memorial should be erected but had some questions about how to keep the memorial lit over night and where it should be installed. However , while Hardridge as quick to point out that discussions will need to be held before anything can be purchased, he was very happy to second the motion to approve a veterans memorial.

The following agenda items were approved:

• Officers Reports - Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, monthly reports for January 2018 in the amount of $42,306.48 and April 2019 in the amount of $49,268.88.

• Blanket Purchase Orders - Sheriff’s Office to Dickies Oil Pit in the amount of $500, District 1 to S&H Auto in the amount of $500 and District 2 to Unifirst Holdings in the amount of $700.

• Employee Acknowledgment Forms - Alvin Foster in District 3 moving to full time, Christopher Goforth from the sheriff’s office ceasing employment and Amanda Barron from the 911 Center, ceasing employment.

• Discussion of the Palmer Meadow Plat. This property is located south of Henryetta and has a plat already developed to petition the property off into lots for sale for homebuilding sites.

• Declaration of Surplus -1995 DuroTank emulsion storage tank.

• Resolution to dispose of equipment - DuroTank storage tank.

• Requisitioning and/ or Receiving Officers for the Health Department - Cindy Casey and Anita Raley as Requisitioning Officers and Denise Treagesser and Dina Grammer as Receiving Officers.

• Reimbursement claim for District Attorney’s Office for the month of April in the amount of $664.32.

• Reimbursement claim for Election Board Secretary’s salary for the month of April in the amount of $3,476.41.

• Monthly Appropriations.

The Agreements for 911 dispatching services has been tabled pending further discussions.