The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners opened Monday’s meeting by addressing ongoing noise complaints from residents about CP Kelco and the sound coming from the factory.

Chris Azbell, a local pastor and community leader who has worked to bring attention to the issue, recently advocated for ways the public can contact CP Kelco for more transparency and resolution. He expressed frustration over the noise, which has continued for around a year – since the company installed new equipment.

“The fact is, they put a new product line in a year ago. November [2023] is when people started complaining about it… We’ve been dealing with these compressors impacting the city of Okmulgee for over a year. How much longer are we going to allow them to do this?” Azbell questioned.

In recent months, many residents have reported that the noise is especially disruptive to those with sensory issues. The ongoing concerns have prompted calls for more transparency from the company.

Commissioners acknowledged the complaints, noting they had met with Kelco representatives and city officials to discuss possible mitigation efforts, including the installation of a silencer, which Mayor Mickey Baldwin said they are “still waiting” on.

Some residents expressed concerns that the company may be delaying action until the facility is sold to a new owner. The commissioners agreed to follow up with Kelco on the status of their noise reduction plans, though no specific timetable was set.

— Other Approvals:

• Approval of previous meeting minutes

• Approval of four claims, including one for the governmental building authority and one for a body scanner at the jail

• Authorization of checks to ensure employees receive their paychecks after payroll processing issues

• An updated opioid abatement award contract between Okmulgee County and OCCJA to correct discrepancies in the award allotment amounts

• Awarding of Bid #37 for improvements to Courtroom #2 (one bid was rejected due to improper completion)

• Approval of blanket purchase orders: District 1 S&H Auto ($1,000), Cintas ($800); District 3 – RPI ($800), O’Reilly’s ($900), Cintas ($900)

• Approval of a full-time employee for District 3

• Surplusing of a gator vehicle no longer in use by the emergency management department The board also received an update on the county inventory report status. Certified letters have been sent to fire departments and other entities that have not submitted their inventory lists, with an October 31 deadline.

— Zoellner’s Proposals

Several items proposed by Commissioner Erik Zoellner were discussed.

The first was a proposal to cap the county’s 457 retirement plan contributions at $500 per employee. Zoellner cited rising employee insurance costs and said the cap would help the county budget more predictably. After some discussion, the commissioners voted to approve the $500 cap.

A second proposal involved county cemetery regulations. Zoellner suggested adopting rules similar to those in Wagoner County, referencing a nationwide “cemetery movement” where individuals seek protection by designating property as a cemetery. County Clerk Tonya Day raised concerns about the financial responsibility for publishing any new regulations. The commissioners decided to table the proposal for further discussion.

Zoellner’s third proposal concerned using the county’s use tax funds to cover “snow day” pay for public works employees when the courthouse is closed due to inclement weather.

While Zoellner argued this would help preserve road maintenance budgets, other commissioners hesitated to use tax reserves without more data on potential costs. The board tabled the proposal for further consideration.

In new business, Zoellner proposed dividing the county’s representation on key boards and committees. He argued that having one commissioner handle the CED, EOD, and OCCJA boards was too burdensome and led to issues in the past. Zoellner volunteered to take on the CED and EOD boards, leaving the BOCC chairmanship open. Commissioner Michael Wallace expressed a preference for keeping the current system, stating, “If it’s the same person, it’s the same person. If it’s not, it’s not.” Zoellner countered, suggesting Wallace might not “necessarily vote in the best interest of the county.” Commissioner David Walker requested more time to consider the matter, and the board decided to table the discussion until the end of the month.

— Other Updates

Emergency Management Director Jeff Moore provided updates on the county’s ongoing work with FEMA on recovery efforts, including funding to upgrade culverts on some roads. He also mentioned that the county is awaiting state funding to move forward with a storm siren project. Additionally, Moore reported that the county is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with a burn ban potentially being implemented if rainfall does not improve.