Waurika News Democrat

Local News

February 3, 2010

Commissioners pay employees, bills

Jeff Kaley

WAURIKA — During a series of three meetings since Jan. 26, the Jefferson County Commissioners dealt with payroll, paying the bills and beginning the process to receive funds tied to a blizzard that struck the county on Christmas Eve.

In a special meeting on Jan. 26, the commissioners met with County Emergency Management Director Donnie Dalton, officials from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The discussion focused on road damages sustained in the area during and after the blizzard that hit on Dec. 24, 2009.

An estimate of damages was created and the commissioners approved the list and voted to have it presented to ODOT for approval.

The only other action at the special meeting was to approve paying $213.68 from the county’s General Fund to cover a penalty incurred when a claim to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission was not paid by deadline.

On Friday, Jan. 29, the commissioners gathered in regular session, but it turned out to be short meeting. Another winter storm had moved through the area on the night Thursday, Jan. 28, and by the time the county chiefs met the next morning, all electricity in Waurika was down.

The commissioners approved claims and authorization of blanket purchase orders and the payroll for county employees for the second pay period of January, then they adjourned. Action on four other agenda items was tabled.

Tuesday, the commissioners were back at Jefferson County Courthouse for a regular meeting that featured another light agenda.

The county officials had received a letter from ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the Oklahoma City company that installed an elevator at the courthouse as part of a major renovation and improvements project. An inspection service was included in the contract with ThyssenKrupp, but in the letter to the commissioners, a company official said the State of Oklahoma requires a state inspector be present to witness those inspections.

“That will add $20 more per month to what we pay for inspections,” noted District 1 Commissioner Billy Kidd, “but I don’t see any way around it.”

The commissioners voted to approve the additional $20 per month payment to be added to the inspection service provided by ThyssenKrupp.

Also approved were claims and authorization of blanket purchase orders and official county officers’ reports.

The commissioners closed the meeting by agreeing to hold a special meeting on Wednesday. At that meeting, they were to hear from representatives of the Jefferson County Economic Development Authority, in regard to an agenda item tabled at the Jan. 29 meeting.

The item called for discussion and possible action on moving JCEDA funds from First State Bank of Ryan to the Jefferson Country treasury, and opening accounts in the treasurer’s office and county clerk’s office to deposit and dispense those funds.

JCEDA board member Jerry Wallace said the economic group feels the commissioners have no authority to move those funds, which amounts to about $15,000. Wallace said the JCEDA board had obtained an opinion from District 6 District Attorney Bret Burns confirming the JCEDA board’s interpretation.

It’s possible a representative from Burns’ office was also in attendance at Wednesday’s special meeting.

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