Erik Zoellner was welcomed Monday morning as the commissioner for Okmulgee County District 1. Judge Pandee Ramirez gave him the Oath of Office as Zoellner was joined by his wife Shamron.

Commissioner David Walker welcomed and introduced Zoeller at his first meeting.

“It’s an honor to serve,” Zoellner said. “I look forward to doing all we can to helping out the citizens of Okmulgee County.”

During Monday’s session, the commissioners approved another 14-day Burn Ban. County Emergency Management Director Tim Craighton shared the latest report from the Forestry Service and no measurable amounts of rain are projected anytime soon. The majority of the county’s fire departments were in favor of continuing the ban.

Craighton reminds citizens that it is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop, or other wildlands, or to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn trash or other materials that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands fire.

Any person convicted of violating this during a ban is subject to a fine of not more than $500, to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment.

During Input from the Public, Bruce Wilcox addressed the board about his desire to bring a ultralight airport to the area. Wilcox owns the property adjacent to the South Industrial Park.

“I have an ultralight airplane and I would like to purchase some land to build an ultralight airport there,” he said. “People in Tulsa that have them cannot find an airport or hangar to really fly out of or keep them in. What I’m wanting to do is purchase this land and then sell lots to these people and they build their own hangar.”

Wilcox also would like to put in an airstrip on the property, allowing plane owners to land and store them.

“This attracts a lot of people,” Wilcox said. He added that it would also bring additional visitors into the area and would be open to anyone.

Commissioner Walker informed Wilcox that if the decision was made to sell the property, it would have to go through the bid process.

“We’ll talk about it and get back with you,” he said.

Agenda items approved were:

• Minutes from the Sept. 30 meeting.

• Officers’ Report from Assessor, Health Department and County Clerk.

• Blanket Purchase Orders: District 1 to S&H Auto; General Government to Cookson Hills Publishers for legal publications and to Dildine Lawn Care.

• Employee Formers: Erik Zoeller as requisitioning officer for District 1.

• Approval of Bid #3 addition to Preston Rural Fire Department - this item was reissued due to no bids being received.

Over the next two weeks, meetings of the county commissioners will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 11 and 18), due to the federal holiday next week and then a county meeting with the Muscogee Nation officials.