During Monday’s meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners, the board formally declared Feb. 17-21, 2025, as Oklahoma Farm Bureau Week in Okmulgee County.
Chairman Michael Wallace read the proclamation, recognizing the Farm Bureau’s contributions to the agricultural community since 1944. Representatives from the organization attended the meeting and posed for a commemorative photo with the commissioners.
The commissioners approved the minutes from the Feb. 3 meeting and an officer’s report from the election board for January. They also approved an employee acknowledgment for a purchasing agent for the health department.
Approved blanket purchase orders included: District 3 – Kennedy Lumber for $500; Health Department Muscogee Nation for $500 (x-rays) and Amazon for $5,000. Other approvals included the allocation of alcoholic beverage and motor vehicle taxes, as well as reimbursement claims for both the district attorney and the election board secretary’s salary.
Later, the commissioners discussed and approved a service agreement with TRANE regarding electronic monitoring for county facilities. Previously, the county paid around $20,000 annually for a contract that included filter changes. Under the new agreement, costs are reduced to about $800 by limiting services to electronic monitoring while jail staff will assume responsibility for changing filters.
The commissioners approved a contract with Miller Office Equipment for a copier. They also reviewed flooring quotes for the treasurer’s office, selecting LeBlanc Construction as the vendor due to its ability to address necessary floor leveling work.
Bridge plans for Will Sampson Road were also approved.
The board approved surplus declarations and the disposal of outdated county equipment, including a wooden table, a fax machine and a cash register, as well as items from District 2 that had remained on inventory despite being out of service for some time.
Next, the board heard a presentation on an updated five-year plan for county roads and bridges. Subsequent discussions included the widening of Prairie Bell Road, bridge replacements on Hectorville Road, and coordination with ODOT on upcoming infrastructure projects. Commissioners also noted concerns from local farmers regarding potential road expansions.
Next, the board approved the payment of claims, a cash fund request for appropriations and an error correction to address a $0.04 miscalculation on last month’s sales tax.
Lastly, Emergency Management Director Jeff Moore reported on FEMA recovery efforts from the April 2024 tornado. He noted that Morris had received its final reimbursement payment, while Okmulgee County was still awaiting funds due to the complexity of its claims.
Moore also reported that the county received new AEDs, which would be installed at various locations. Safety training sessions, a federally mandated requirement, had begun across all three districts and would continue throughout the year. With winter weather approaching, Moore advised that county crews were preparing sand trucks to address potential ice accumulation.
With no new business to discuss, the meeting adjourned.
