April 29, 2009 — With a new county budget on the horizon, Rogers County commissioners are seeking a replacement for Billy K. Quinton who recently resigned from the Rogers County Excise Equalization Board.

Commissioners accepted Quinton’s resignation at Monday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. Quintin had served for three years.

The three-member Excise Board approves the county budget annually.

Last year, long-time Excise Board member, Sham Coppinger resigned due to declining health. He was replaced by former county commissioner Gerry Payne from the Chelsea area within District 1.

Quinton represented District 2, according to Chairman Mike Helm. His replacement will be appointed by the county commissioners. The appointment was tabled for further study as a candidate for replacement is sought.

The third member of the Excise Board, Buck Mullen, was appointed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Mullen is from the Inola area and represents District 3.

In other county business Monday, commissioners heard a presentation by Rick Johnson of Terra Telecom of Tulsa concerning courthouse security and a report from Lisa Clark, Rural Development Specialist on available funding.

Johnson said Terra Telecom has installed video surveillance at county warehouses in Districts 1 and 2 and would like to install an emergency alert system to aid courthouse security.

The proposed system would involve colored strobe lights at six locations throughout the courthouse. During emergency situations a colored light would indicate the nature of the emergency.

“Whoever initiates, turns the switch on,” said Johnson.

A pre-recorded intercom announcement could also be included as part of the alert, tying audible notification to the visible notification of the strobe lights. Manual notifications could be made via a microphone.

Commissioners referred the matter to Sheriff Scott Walton.

“I’d like to have to time to sit down with Bob (Anderson),” said Walton.

Anderson, the Rogers County Emergency Management Director, has been working with Commissioner Dan DeLozier to meet security needs at the courthouse. Walton will join that consultation.

“I’d be all for the right warning system,” said Walton.

Chairman Mike Helm said he would like to see the system tied in with E-911 in order to take advantage of funding sources.

Once a list of specifications for the system is developed, it will be put out to bid, said Helm.

Also reporting to commissioners was Rural Development Specialist Lisa Clark. Clark is with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Clark said in studying needs presented by commissioners, there is a possible funding source for the jail thermal system through a state energy program.

“Every day we have updates on our website on stimulus projects,” said Clark. She is monitoring those project guidelines and will work with the county to facilitate the application for grants and other funding sources as the become available.

“I’ve been searching for grand funding for you,” said Clark. She said Rogers County has grown too large to qualify for UYSDA funding, a source she had checked in hopes to secure money for a new county barn DeLozier plans to build in District 1 on land the county owns in the Chelsea Industrial Park.

“Thank you for your help,” said Helm. He attributed information from Clark for helping Rogers County to secure over $300,000 in funding. “You put us on the right direction.”

Other funding discussions concerned Rural Water District 8 and funding from the Dept. of Commerce handled by INCOG.

Andy Armstrong of INCOG said areas must quality as low to moderate income. In Rogers County, those areas are sometimes hared to establish. RW8 was able to qualify.

In District 2 Rogers County qualified for help through INCOG’s Transportaion Policy Committee for the Pine Street Roadway Relocation project in the amount of $63,000. Helm said that Catoosa area was the only portion of the county to qualify under a program providing for Tulsa urbanized revitalization.