A newly implemented federal partnership program that has already brought significant funding into Okmulgee County took center stage Monday morning during the regular meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners.
Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice announced the county has received its first payout through the 287(g) program, a cooperative agreement with federal immigration authorities, following a recent arrest and deportation tied to a local traffic stop.
“We have since got our first individual that we deported based off the traffic stop,” Rice told commissioners. “So we’ve got now … about $175,000 coming to us.”
Rice explained the funding is designated primarily for vehicle-related expenses within the sheriff ’s office, including maintenance, repairs and fleet upgrades. He noted the funding is not recurring in the same form, but additional quarterly opportunities may follow.
“That was a one-time deal,” Rice said. “Now they have a quarterly deal where we’ll get $75,000 every quarter … as long as the money lasts.”
While the funding provides a boost to county resources, Rice emphasized the work involved in obtaining it.
“Still, we’re not going to the local restaurants, and we’re not going door to door,” Sheriff Rice said. “These are illegals that we encounter that are committing crimes.”
— Storm damage, school concerns continue
Also drawing significant discussion was the ongoing recovery from recent severe weather, including tornado damage impacting parts of the county.
Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Moore reported that coordination continues with state and federal agencies, including FEMA, though a formal disaster declaration remains uncertain.
“There is extensive damage to the school, even further than what was preliminary,” the report stated, noting that one building may ultimately need to be demolished pending further engineering review.
Officials stressed that student safety remains the top priority, with structural assessments ongoing before any decisions are finalized.
Debris cleanup across affected areas is still underway, with crews continuing to remove storm-related materials.
“We’ve probably got a couple more weeks of debris cleaned up,” Commissioner Ernie Ferreira adding that conditions are improving as recovery progresses.
— Routine business, approvals handled In addition to the major updates, commissioners moved through a full agenda of routine county business, including approval of officers’ reports, blanket purchase orders and private property agreements.
The board also approved allocations for both alcoholic beverage and motor vehicle taxes, along with several financial transfers, including funds to support sheriff ’s office payroll tied to prior emergency-related expenses.
A discussion regarding the transfer of Nuyaka and Preston communication towers to local fire associations highlighted ongoing logistical challenges, including utility account requirements and administrative coordination.
Also addressed was a procedural issue involving the sale of fire department equipment, with the assistant district attorney emphasizing the need for proper surplus declarations prior to any transactions.
Officials indicated steps will be taken to ensure clearer guidance moving forward to avoid similar issues.
