The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting Monday, where key decisions were made concerning infrastructure upgrades, 911 mapping compliance and emergency management programs. Among the most significant developments were the awarding of a contract for repairs at the Election Board office and urgent action taken to address the county’s non-compliance status with statewide emergency dispatch mapping – a situation that could impact critical 911 fund- ing.

After extensive discussion and a review of bids, the Commissioners voted to award Bid #5 for repairs to the Election Board office to Lamont Construction. The project had previously been tabled to allow more time for clarification on bid specifications. County staff reported that the initial low bidder, Triple S Construction, failed to include the removal of the existing floor, later submitting a change order of $14,000 – exceeding the allowed 10% threshold for bid adjustments.

Although Lamont Construction’s bid came in $5,000 higher than the next lowest qualified bidder, their detailed proposal and ability to complete the work within two weeks were major factors in the board’s unanimous decision. Other bidders had proposed completion timelines of up to 90 days, which officials said was unacceptable for an office that must remain operational.

“We needed a contractor that could meet our timeline and deliver detailed, transparent work,” one official noted during the meeting. Lamont Construction had previously worked with the County Treasurer’s Office and came highly recommended.

— WFD building bid tabled again

No contractors appeared at the meeting to present or discuss Invitation to Bid #6, which concerned a new building for the Wilson Fire Department. As a result, the item was tabled once again for future consideration.

The Board also approved a resolution supporting updated boundary maps for rural fire departments across Okmulgee County. The changes aim to streamline dispatch protocols and clarify which departments respond to various areas – particularly around geographic complexities like rivers.

The updated boundaries were created in collaboration with the local fire departments, including Yocham and Twin Hills, and are intended to be finalized into a clearly printed, digital map rather than a hand-drawn version. Commissioners agreed this would create a consistent and permanent reference for future dispatch operations.

— EM Report: Smoke Detector Program & Training Highlights Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore reported a busy week for his department, including a volunteer training session, attendance at a regional emergency management workshop in Tulsa hosted by the Muscogee Nation, and continued work on the county’s Emergency Operations Plan.

A highlight of the report was the launch of a new Smoke Detector Program in partnership with the American Red Cross, allowing Okmulgee County residents to receive free smoke alarms with installation. Moore stated the program had already received 19 calls from interested households, with installations planned to begin in the first week of October.

In addition, the county’s Emergency Operations facility hosted a sheriff ’s office radio training program during the week.

Moore also noted that work continues on water-related issues in the Town of Beggs following recent flooding, and cautioned about more rain and potential severe weather forecasted for the area.

— Emergency mapping compliance grant discussed A pressing concern addressed during the meeting involved the county’s compliance with a state-mandated emergency dispatch mapping system. The state legislature has required all 911 centers to operate under a unified mapping standard, and Okmulgee County is currently listed as non-compliant – a designation known as “black flagged.”

Failure to meet compliance standards by Jan. 1 could result in the loss of critical 911 funding, prompting immediate action by the board. Commissioners authorized staff to submit a grant application to fund the required upgrades to the county’s dispatch system maps.

Under new business, commissioners reviewed quotes for repairs to the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds – including fixing gutters, addressing leaks and reconstructing damaged walls in a storage building. Officials confirmed that the roof damage was unrelated to previously reported bullet holes, and the total estimate came in under the $25,000 threshold, making it eligible for direct contracting. Only one contractor returned quotes for both roof and gutter work, and the item was approved for action.

The board approved multiple routine administrative items including: • Blanket Purchase Orders, including one for AutoZone for District 3

• Employee Form Updates, including a transfer from full-time to part-time for one District 1 employee and other status changes at the 911 Center

• Utility Permits and Private Property Agreements Additionally, a transfer of funds was approved to correct a longstanding accounting discrepancy related to tax credit allocations following the death of a county employee. Treasurer’s staff explained that the tax overage had been misapplied to penalties instead of refunded, necessitating the adjustment to match bank records.

— Executive Session & Adjournment

The Board voted to enter Executive Session under 25 O.S. §307(B)(3) to discuss confidential communications regarding real property. The meeting adjourned following the executive session.