County lends hand to

Jeff Kaley

WAURIKA — With state funding cutbacks already underway, Jefferson County Commissioners are giving support to an effort to ensure that Tri-County Elderly Nutrition and senior citizens sites in the county will remain open.

Tri-County Nutrition Centers in Waurika, Ryan and Ringling have already incurred funding cuts and are geared for more in coming months. Those entities have already announced some changes services they offer.

In addition, senior citizens sites in the county are also preparing for reductions in funding they receive.

With that in mind, during a regular meeting Friday at the Jefferson County Courthouse, the commissioners approved a resolution stating they support for Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging. The resolution asks that “the Oklahoma State Legislature seek immediate solutions to providing funding at its current level of service to the Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging,” which is under the auspices of the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services.

The resolution stressed the important role entities such as Tri-County Nutrition Centers play “to promote the heath and well-being of older individuals.”

While the resolution is somewhat symbolic, it puts the Jefferson County Commissioners in position to partner with the Area Agencies on Aging in lobbying the legislature for financial aid to nutrition centers and senior citizens sites. It also confirms county government’s intention to lend other forms of support and assistance to those entities.

The commissioners also took action on an agenda item that will result in a new county treasurer.

After 20 years in office, county treasurer Vickie Behrens submitted an official resignation letter, noting that she planned to retire on Dec. 1. The commissioners accepted Behrens’ resignation and then voted to approve appointing deputy treasurer Ann Medlinger to the post, effective on Dec. 1.

Behrens’ term expires with a special election on July 27, 2010, with Medlinger serving the appointment until then. Candidates for the treasure’s special election have a filing deadline of July 2, 2010, and Medlinger confirmed Friday she plans to run for the office.

The commissioners spent several minutes listening to a review of the county’s personnel policy handbook. County Sheriff Michael Bryant said several clarifications and changes were needed in passages of the policy. The commissioners approved that policy in October.

Bryant said key changes dealt with language about pay periods and setting up a chain of command for handling complaints and grievances brought by county personnel.

He noted that most clarifications and changes involved “removing typographical errors and duplications, and clarifying some of the language.”

Bryant identified those changes and said he would present a final draft to the commissioners, who agreed to take official action at a future meeting.

In other action, the commissioners approved:

• Re-appointing Retha Allen to the Jefferson County Healthcare Board for a term that would expire in 2014.

• Paying a final claim of $548 to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, with funds coming from the General Fund.

• Renewal of a lease agreement with First Bank & Trust Co. for a John Deere motor grader in District 1.

• Renewal of the county’s cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services for animal damage control. The three county districts will split the $2,400 payment for the service, which deals with controlling damage done by beavers, wild hogs and other wildlife.

• Paying $271.32 to OPERS on a retirement contribution for county election board deputy Lynette Griffin. Funds for that contribution, originally due in fiscal year 2005, will come from the General Fund.

• Lease renewals with Welch State Bank on a New Holland TL70 tractor and a Komatsu loader for District 3.

• County payroll for the second half of October.

• Action on claims and authorization of blanket purchase orders.

• Minutes from a regular meeting on Oct. 14.

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