New officers for OSU Extension were announced during a brief meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners on Monday. OSU Extension Interim County Extension Director Brenda Miller introduced Jake Hill and Ellie Klassen as the newest members of the team.

Hill, the new agriculture and 4-H extension educator, shared that he is familiar with the community, having grown up in the area.

He highlighted upcoming events, including the Spring Livestock Show, set to begin Wednesday, with a premium sale scheduled for Tuesday night.

Klassen, the newly appointed high obesity educator for Okmulgee and Muskogee counties, explained that her role is part of a CDC-funded program focused on improving physical activity, nutrition and built environments in communities with high obesity rates. She emphasized the initiative’s goal of working with local partners to plan events that promote health and wellness.

At the meeting, commissioners also approved routine agenda items, including officers’ reports from the Health Department and County Clerk for January, as well as the following utility permits: Emergency Management – Comdata for $1,000; Cookson Hills for $1,500 (legal publications); District 1 – Cintas for $800, S&H Auto for $1,000; District 3 – Burnett Hardware for $500, Cintas for $700.

A request was also discussed and approved to use the county’s use tax fund to cover accrued vacation time for a former District 2 employee transitioning to a new role at the county jail.

In new business, the board voted to add Steve Ward to the board for the Bristlecone Road project in case District 3 Commissioner Michael Wallace was unavailable.

Lastly, an update was provided on the Ash Road bridge project, with District 2 Commissioner Steve Ward reporting that the old bridge has been removed and dirt work is underway. The estimated timeline for completion is approximately four months, pending weather conditions.