A range of routine county business items were reviewed and acted upon during Monday’s regular meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners.
The members heard a report from Okmulgee County Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore about the busy week both in and out of the county, as agencies worked together in fighting wildfires to clean up after a brief tornado touched down near Morris on Sunday morning.
“It’s been a very busy month,” Moore reported. “We assisted McIntosh County wildfires and received a call from Tulsa County to assist with the Gem Dirt fire. We sent multiple tankers on Tuesday and Thursday. District One Interim Commissioner Ferreira took their big tanker out, and they were very thankful.”
Moore detailed the extensive water support: “Over 6 million gallons of water were used during the three-day operation. The closest hydrant was 5,000 yards away, so we had to strategically use tankers.”
He also noted the recent acquisition of a drone, which “has been utilized every day since last Friday, with yesterday being the first day used in our county.”
Discussing the recent tornado, Moore explained, “We experienced another tornado this weekend in the same area. There was no tornado warning issued. After reviewing the radar, I contacted the National Weather Service. What appeared to be normal winds in the Highway 52 and Gun Club Road area was actually a tornado beginning to build, with 70-plus straight winds coming into the storm.”
Moore praised the community’s emergency response, emphasizing resource management and collaborative efforts among various county departments.
The following agenda items were approved:
• Blanket Purchase Orders: District 3 to Burnett Hardware – $500, AutoZone – $500, RPI -$500, Cintas – $700, Kennedy Lumber -$500; Emergency Management to ComData for fuel, $1,000.
• Employee Forms – Justin Siebert, District 1, employment ceased; Delmer Lewis, District 3, employment ceased. Donation of sick leave from Kristin Rempke and annual leave from Shelly Turner.
• Preliminary plat for Bald Hill One key financial item on the agenda was consideration of a $540,416.50 final payment to Trane, a building systems and energy services company. The payment is to be made using funds from the county’s Use Tax fund.
Infrastructure was also on the agenda, with the board approving a Utility Relocation Agreement related to the Bristlecone Road project, a step forward for the ongoing local roadway improvements.
The board reviewed and acted on items involving county-owned equipment, including a declaration to surplus and a resolution for disposing of outdated equipment.
A representative from the Okmulgee County Youth Services (OOCYS) provided details about a storage building on their property, highlighting significant structural and environmental issues: Key Observations
• The building is located at the back of the property.
• It has been used primarily for storage for an extended period.
• The structure sits in a low-lying area with increasing water accumulation problems.
• Water has repeatedly entered the building over time.
• Extensive mold growth is now present throughout the structure.
— Specific Concerns
• No utilities have ever been connected to the building.
• The building is considered very old and currently unsuitable for any functional use.
• Water levels around the building have progressively worsened.
• The structure is in poor condition and potentially beyond repair.
The commissioners discussed the potential need to assess the building’s condition and consider possible removal. No immediate action was determined during this discussion, but the building’s deteriorating state was clearly a significant concern for the OOCYS representatives.
The next regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is expected to take place Monday, April 7, at 9 a.m., unless otherwise announced.
