The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners began their first meeting of the new year by appointing Commissioner Michael Wallace as chairman of the board and newly appointed Commissioner Steve Ward as vice chairman for the 2025 calendar year. Ward was also appointed to the LEO Consortium board.

The board then moved to approve the December reports for the county clerk and health department, as well as the designation of requesting and receiving officers for District 2 and OSU, and employee acknowledgments, which included the retire- ment of David Earhart and the hiring of Tommy as a full-time employee in District 2.

In financial matters, the board approved a transfer to correct an accounting error, reallocating funds to the Dewar stoplight account from the appropriate general fund after payments were mistakenly drawn from the wrong account.

The following blanket purchase orders were also approved: Health Department – Amazon for $5,000; MN – X-rays for $500; District 1 S&H Auto for $1,000 and $2,130; District 2 Cintas for $700; District 3 – Cintas for $900 and RPI for $800.

Resolutions to allocate Use Tax funds for flooring upgrades in the treasurer’s office and authorize the use of the general fund for fire extinguishers were also approved. The board also voted to pay the second half of their property and liability insurance.

Next, they approved the use of opioid abatement grant funding for the purchase of a new recorder for the county’s 911 services. According to an OCCJA representative, they currently have a bid on one for $43,838 and said the current recorder, which handles all emergency communication recordings, has reached the end of its lifespan.

Later, an outdated EF Johnson portable radio was retired, with parts to be repurposed for maintaining similar equipment for emergency management.

Emergency Management Director Jeff Moore reported on the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant, which increased funding to $55,800. He also provided updates on FEMA’s reimbursement timeline and ongoing safety initiatives, including cold-weather preparations.

In light of freezing temperatures, a warming center has been opened at the Free Will Baptist Church, with support from the Red Cross. This initiative will likely extend beyond Wednesday, depending on weather conditions. A potential snowstorm later this week could bring up to two inches of snow locally.

Later, commissioners approved updates to the county’s safety manual to meet federal compliance standards. Training sessions for staff will begin once the revised manual is implemented.