The Okmulgee County Board of County Commissioners tabled a key resolution Monday morning during their regular meeting, opting to delay approval of updated rural fire department boundaries until next week. The resolution, which would allow dispatch vendor CallWorks to implement newly agreed-upon district maps, was postponed to allow time to prepare the necessary documentation.

The Sept. 15 meeting, held in the County Courthouse’s Commissioners Conference Room, also featured updates from Emergency Management on FEMA appeals, a vehicle accident involving county equipment and new business related to opioid settlement funds and employee policy revisions.

— Fire Map Boundary resolution tabled until next week What was expected to be a routine approval for the updated Fire Map Boundaries was instead tabled, after it was determined a formal resolution still needed to be drafted. Rural fire departments had previously collaborated to resolve overlapping district issues, submitting a revised map that requires CallWorks-Okmulgee County’s dispatch mapping vendor-to update the boundaries in their system. However, CallWorks requires an official county resolution before proceeding.

“They all agreed on the map, but we still need to put together a resolution,” Undersheriff Smokey Patchin noted. “Once that’s ready, we’ll submit it so CallWorks can enter the changes into the system.”

The item is expected to be revisited and potentially approved at the next Commissioners’ meeting.

— FEMA Appeals & Safety Updates

Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore briefed the board on ongoing efforts related to flood damage from earlier this year. After multiple denials, the state of Oklahoma is now in the midst of a fifth appeal to FEMA for disaster assistance related to flooding in April and May.

“FEMA brought in a whole new team who said the prior work was done incorrectly,” Moore said. “They’re re-evaluating now, which could finally lead to some reimbursement for our county.”

Moore also shared that the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief (ER) Program is still evaluating a $500,000 spillway project in District 3. That project, involving multiple entities and historical review processes, is still being assessed to determine who is responsible for funding.

Additionally, Moore reported on a recent traffic accident involving county equipment in District 3, where a vehicle collided with the rear of a county dozer shortly after it had been placed on the road. The impact was strong enough to move the heavy machine approximately two feet. Fortunately, no county employees were injured.

— New opioid settlement handled by DA’s office During “New Business,” Assistant District Attorney Carmen Rainbolt informed commissioners of an incoming opioid settlement stemming from Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy case. While the settlement does not require formal commissioner approval, the board voted unanimously to allow the DA’s office to handle the necessary filings for Okmulgee County to receive any proceeds.

“It could be a dollar or a million-we don’t know yet,” Rainbolt stated. “But someone’s going to get a check at some point, and this ensures we’re ready.”

— Policy change suggested for employee uniform returns District 2 raised concerns over an employee who failed to return uniforms after their final paycheck had already been direct-deposited. With no paper check to hold, the county had no way to recover the items. Commissioners agreed the personnel handbook should be revised to ensure all departing employees receive a paper check for their final paycheck, allowing uniform and property returns to be verified beforehand.

— Bids tabled for repairs, new WFD facility

Two major projects under the bidding process were also tabled:

• Bid #5 – Repairs to the Election Board office were postponed at the request of Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes, who was out of county on official business.

• Bid #6 – For construction of a new Wilson Fire Department building, bids were opened, but no decision was made pending further documentation review.

— Other Business Approved

Commissioners made quick work of standard business matters, including:

• Blanket Purchase Orders – Approved for District 2 (Cintas)

• Employee Forms – Acknowledgement of Marshall Tarver resignation in District 1

• Private Property Agreements – Two approved in District 3

• Engagement Letter with OSAI – Approved for FY24 AC Procedures

• Declaration of Surplus & Disposal Resolutions – Approved

• Resolution to use Use Tax – Approved for mapping work aiding the Assessor’s Office

• Fund Transfers – Final fiscal year rollovers and funds moved to the Sheriff for 911 expenses

• Payment of Claims – Approved unanimously — Emergency Management: Additional Notes Moore’s office reported:

• Floodplain permit issued to the Muscogee Nation for Gun Club Road work.

• Three land developers in Districts 2 and 3 requested floodplain reviews.

• LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) met with strong agency participation.

— Executive Session & Closing

The board entered Executive Session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(3) to discuss real estate matters. No action was reported following the closed session.