Jason Davey of Trane updated the Okmulgee County Commissioners about the upcoming project during their Monday session.

“There has been a lot of activity that has happened behind the scenes regarding the HVAC and lighting upgrades for this building,” Davey said. “I’m happy to report that we have made some tremendous progress regarding the project.”

Bids were received the first of November, but he stated one of the big delays has been ensuring that any work on the courthouse complies with the State Historic Preservation Society requirements.

“We have received approval to move forward with the design plans regarding the State Historic Preservation Society,” Davey said.

He added there were three items that needed to be addressed, which included any historical lighting fixtures on the property which would only require them to be re-lamped for LED, “which I don’t see as a problem.”

“If we do any new electrical or mechanical systems, which we are, to make sure they are installed in a manner that has minimal effect on the historical character of the building, and I don’t see that as being an issue either,” Davey said.

One item that wasn’t included in the scope of work were the windows.

According to Davey, it was recommended “not to replace windows, but to repair unless we can up with whatever their classification that says ‘not possible,’” Davey said. “We’ll have to address that on a separate entity because I’m not sure what they are referring to as the cost of repair versus replace. I think all of us sitting in this room today realize that it is a tremendous opportunity for the health and well-being of this building.”

Davey also reported that a preliminary review of terms and conditions for the turnkey construction agreement, “those have come back mutually agreed upon,” so a draft version was included in the presentation to the commissioners.

A meeting with representatives of Public Service Company of Oklahoma was scheduled for Monday to discuss the plan for upgrading of the electric to the courthouse.

“Right now, it is an aerial transformer and we are wanting to move it into a pad transformer, so we will go over the details to see if we are all on the same page, so we can move forward in a timely fashion,” Davey said.

He stated there was a good turnout on the walk-through and has received both electrical and mechanical bids and recommended those with quality bids be approved.

Commissioner David Walker spoke about windows in the courthouse and the definite need to replace those.

“That’s part of the reason we are doing this and keeping the windows is not efficient,” Commissioner Erik Zoellner said.

Davey recommended looking into the matter further and exploring the various possibilities and then present those to the State Historical Preservation Society.

Also speaking during Monday’s session was Scott Brians with CED 2 discussing the upcoming Bristlecone Road Project.

Purchasing of rightof- ways from more than 50 parcels for the 3.5-mile County Improvement Road and Bridges (CIRB) project is under way.

Brians explained the process of acquiring the right-of-ways from property owners.

“We go through there, offer the fair market value and give them their packet of their land rights,” Brians said. “The county is not responsible for paying this. The county has to approve - after said landowner signs and agrees to however much right-of-way we take. It comes back to the county and runs through the board here and they approve what has happened here as well.”

ODOT will then pay the landowner for the right-of-way.

“The only reason it comes to the county is to show that these people are being compensated, to show this board realizes this,” Brians said.

Agenda items approved were:

• Officers’ Report from County Clerk and Okmulgee County Health Department.

• Blanket Purchase Orders: From General Government to Cookson Hills Publishers for legal publications and to Dildine Lawn Care.

• Employee Forms: Donation of sick leave from Jeanette Johnson to Brooklyn Arnett.

• Utility permit for water line installation in District 3.

• Transfer of Funds (Monthly).

• Schedule of Regular Meetings for 2023 calendar year.

• Bid #4 for road materials for a sixmonth period based on the purchasing agent’s recommendation.

• Invitation to Bid #6 for Election Ballots for a twelve-month period.

• Resolution to reimburse General Fund.