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January 29, 2013

BOCC conducts business as usual

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Rogers County Commissioners met Monday to discuss various general business items including several independent contract agreements, utility permits and construction updates for the new courthouse.

The board approved agreements with Jim Guess and Brian Kellogg.

Guess will be working with the Rogers County Election Board on computer services.

“He can come to us at a drop of a hat and provide what we need,” Election Board Secretary Julie Dermody said.

Kellogg’s contract is for engineering service on the Spunky Creek Bridge project.

The bridge project has been in the process for several years due to pending litigation with area property owners.

The commissioners approved several utility permits involving Oklahoma Natural Gas in District 3.

Several of the permits were for underground boring to place or repair utilities in the area.

Updates on the courthouse construction are being provided on a weekly basis to the commissioners. This week BJ Knowles of Flintco Construction provided the update.

“We are nearing completion of pouring concrete between the courthouse and the jail,” Knowles said.

Construction crews continue interior work including painting and laying flooring on the fourth floor.

Commissioner Mike Helm presented sales associates with P& K Equipment, a John Deere dealer on a new program to purchase new equipment each fiscal year.

The program allows for a five to seven thousand trade in difference, after one year of owning the equipment.

It matches extended warranties and creates no cost savings for the county, however offers other benefits, according to Helm.

In other business the board reviewed bids for new furniture for the District Attorney’s office.

Prices ranged from the $35,000 to approximately $67,000 for the furniture to be used at the new courthouse.

Finally the commissioner’s heard announcements from each department.

Human Resource Director Jenny Bentley provided an update on the move to the new building and the employment search for a new director of emergency management.

The plan is currently being developed, but will likely include closing the courthouse for a week during the move, according to Bentley.

“It will be organized chaos at the best,” Commissioner Kirt Thacker said.

Bentley will be conducting approximately 20 interviews this week for the position of Emergency Management Director.

She will be narrowing the candidates to approximately five before the commissioners will have the opportunity to conduct interviews.

Chief David Puckett asked the board if a committee could be put in place to hire the emergency management director similar to the process with the 911 director.

Commissioners Dan DeLozier and Thacker seemed receptive to the idea, however Helm opposed.

The matter was dropped leaving the hiring duties to Bentley.

 

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