The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners met for their end-of-the-month meeting on Tuesday, where they heard a presentation from members of the Okmulgee Humane Society regarding their plans for a new pet adoption center.

Aimee Robinson, the Board President of the Okmulgee Humane Society, provided further details about the center and potential funding for the project.

“We have recently been given the incredible gift and opportunity by the Sam Viersen Family Foundation to construct an entirely new pet adoption center to support the Humane Society.” Robinson said, adding that Oklahoma ranks in the top nine in shelter euthanasia rates.

Robinson said that the center would not only work to hold adoptables, but aims to eliminate boarding costs, serve as an education center, and provide spay and neuter services.

Barbara Martin, the Okmulgee Humane Society’s Executive Director, discussed the Viersen Family Foundation’s support for the organization and the grant opportunity.

“We have submitted a grant. It is kind of on hold until we find out what kind of land we get and what kind of expenses that we are looking at to rebuild,” she said.

Robinson said that they’ve looked at buildings in the community but “it looks like it would cost more to renovate than to just build a whole new structure.”

Commissioner David Walker and Commissioner Erik Zoellner both expressed interest in the project, but asked the representatives to provide more information and a plan for the building construction, including an estimate of how much the Viers- en Family Foundation grant would provide.

During the meeting, the board also heard from representatives of ecoLINK, who spoke briefly about plans to expand services to surrounding areas, such as Schulter, Morris, and Beggs. Commissioner Zoellner said that he would recommend the chairman of the Board of Oklahoma County Commissioners (BOCC) be their point of contact.

Action regarding the health department’s remodel project was tabled until next week’s meeting.

— Also approved at the meeting:

• Minutes from the previous meeting

• Payment of claims

• Lease/Purchase for a 2023 Ford Explorer for the Sheriff’s Office

• Return of a $66,553 donation to the county for a chip and seal road project in District 1 to comply with standard operating procedures regarding county donations • Disposal of equipment for the Assessor — Blanket Purchase Orders

• District 1: S&H Auto for $1,000

• District 2: Cintas for $700, RPI for $1,000

• District 3: Cintas for $900, O’Reilly’s for $600, RPI for $800 — Employee Forms

• Sheriff ’s Office: One employee form for a full-time employee and another form listed as other/medical — Private Property Agreements

• Three forms, all from District 1, were tabled until the board could receive legible documentation