The Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners met Monday morning, Nov. 10, at the courthouse to address a full agenda of county business, including road agreements, 2026 holidays and new service contracts. Commissioners Michael Wallace, Steve Ward and Ernie Ferreira were present for the session, which opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board approved minutes from the Nov. 3 meeting and moved swiftly through several recurring items, including officer reports, blanket purchase orders and employee forms (requisitioning and receiving officers for OSU Extension).
Utility permits were approved for East Central Electric Cooperative’s EcoLink fiber optic line project. Commissioners noted the line had likely been approved in a prior session but was included again for confirmation.
Two private property agreements were also approved, as well as allocations for alcoholic beverage and motor vehicle tax revenues. Reimbursement claims for both the District Attorney’s Office and the Election Board Secretary’s salary received unanimous approval.
One of the key items on Monday’s agenda involved an agreement with Harris United LLC concerning improvements along N. 230 Road. The project includes raising and reshaping the roadbed, cleaning ditches and then applying new gravel and chip seal.
Commissioner Ferreira noted that the agreement had been revised multiple times until all parties were satisfied with the plan. A discussion followed regarding culvert installation requirements for property owners along the route. Commissioners ultimately voted to approve the agreement as amended, removing language that required residents to pay for their own culverts.
The commissioners then reviewed and approved the 2026 county holiday calendar, opting for “Option One,” which includes an additional day off for Christmas. The schedule aligns county holidays with those observed by other state and local agencies, ensuring consistent closures for courthouse and road department operations.
A new service agreement with Oklahoma State University (OSU) was also approved. While details were not discussed at length, the agreement is part of ongoing cooperation between the county and OSU for technical or extension-related services.
Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore delivered a detailed update, highlighting several recent incidents and permitting activities across the county.
• Floodplain Activity: Three floodplain permits were issued last week, including one major permit for the City of Okmulgee’s wastewater treatment facility improvement project.
• Town of Winchester: Moore reported assisting the town and its mayor with state permitting guidance for a large new development, noting he would attend their next council meeting to provide support.
• Fire Responses: Emergency Management responded to one fatal structure fire in Grayson and two additional fires over the weekend. Moore reminded residents to have their heating systems inspected as colder weather increases fire risks.
• Railroad Grass Fire: He also reported a significant incident near the Bryant area, where someone walking along the railroad tracks set several grass fires that spread to more than 1,000 railroad ties, burning for nearly 24 hours. Moore thanked Commissioner Wallace and the Plainview Fire Department for assisting with containment efforts.
During the new business portion, commissioners approved appropriations that had been inadvertently omitted from the agenda. Before adjourning, they took a moment to honor local veterans in recognition of Veterans Day week, thanking all those present for their service.
The board then voted to recess and reconvene in executive session to discuss matters involving county real estate. Legal counsel advised that the session be held off-site at a nearby location to comply with open meeting laws and Attorney General guidance. No further action was taken before adjournment.
