The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners convened Monday, July 14, for their regular weekly meeting, addressing a packed agenda that included infrastructure improvements, employee compliance programs and updates on recent emergency events. A central focus of the meeting was the proposed adoption of a county-wide safety training software, pitched by Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure regulatory compliance and safeguard county personnel.

--- Countywide Safety Software in the Spotlight Among the most significant items discussed was a proposed $10,000 contract with Safety Plus, a safety management software company that provides mobile- compatible tools designed to bring public entities into compliance with OSHA and Department of Labor safety training requirements.

Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore delivered an in-depth presentation to the board, highlighting the software’s ability to standardize safety training across departments and streamline onboarding for new hires.

“This tool puts us at the forefront of county safety programs in the state,” Moore told commissioners. “It’s not only about compliance, but also protecting our employees and reducing risk.”

The Safety Plus program features over 140 training modules, 500 toolbox talks, customizable safety forms, automated OSHA reporting tools and centralized access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Moore emphasized that each county department - ranging from district barns to courthouse offices - could integrate its specific needs into the system.

“The importance of this program is that we can deliver mandatory safety training from any location - cell phones, tablets or desktop computers at the barns, sheriff ’s office, or courthouse,” Moore said. “Every new county hire must go through hazardous communication training within 30 days, and this gives us the tools to make that happen—a first in Okmulgee County history.”

Initial implementation would begin with District 1 and the courthouse, expanding later to Districts 2 and 3, the Sheriff ’s Office and other departments. The software also allows for monitoring of certification expiration dates and logs safety inspections, helping departments meet federal record-keeping requirements with ease.

--- Gas Leaks, Flooding & Water Emergencies Director Moore also provided a comprehensive update on emergency management activities, describing a week marked by gas leaks, storm response and infrastructure failures.

A significant gas leak early in the week occurred along Highway 75, prompting evacuations and temporary road closures. The response included coordination with the Okmulgee Fire Department, Muscogee Nation and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

“Highway 75 was temporarily shut down while responders worked to isolate the leak,” Moore explained. “We had to evacuate nearby businesses and residents as a precaution.”

Later in the week, a second gas leak near Liberty required further emergency response, and then on Saturday, heavy rains led to widespread flooding in several low-lying areas. District 1 had to shut down roads out of precaution, with Moore noting that barricades were provided from Tulsa to assist with road closures.

Adding to the week’s complications, Rural Water District 20 suffered a major water system failure, with over 35 to 40 leaks reported along a mile-anda-half stretch of line. “Five households were still without water as of the weekend,” Moore said. “A water buffalo has been placed on-site, and repairs are expected to take at least two weeks. From what I understand, nearly every joint in that stretch will need replacement.”

--- District 2 Awarded $75,000 Grant

Moore also reported a bright spot for the week successful submission and approval of a $75,000 infrastructure grant on behalf of District 2.

“Before I even got back to the office, we had confirmation that the grant had been awarded,” Moore noted, commending the teamwork that led to the timely submission.

The funds will be used for road-widening and improvement projects, contributing to safer travel for county residents.

--- Additional Business & Appointments

The meeting, which began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, moved quickly through several routine agenda items. These included:

• Approval of July 7 meeting minutes

• Officer reports and blanket purchase orders, including D3 RPI ($500), O’Reilly ($900) and a $400 fuel allocation for the Assessor’s office to District 2

• Full-time employment approval for Christopher Tiller in District 3

• Approval of utility permits for District 1 and a private property agreement in District 2 Financial matters included allocation of alcoholic beverage and motor vehicle taxes, budget transfers and cash fund appropriations. Invitation to Bid #13 regarding the hauling of road materials was opened and taken under advisement for later award, while action on Bid #2 for renovations to the County Treasurer’s Office was tabled pending additional documentation.

Under new business, commissioners deliberated financing options for an outstanding county obligation. The board weighed whether to make a lumpsum payment or split the payment into two installments, with a potential interest savings of about $2,200.

Additionally, Commissioner Steve Ward requested to be removed from the Green Country Workforce Development Board, nominating Commissioner Ernie Ferreira as his replacement. The change was approved without objection.

The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to reconvene for its next regular meeting on Monday, July 21, at 9 a.m.