Atoka County Commissioner Meeting – Liquor Proposition Headed To Ballot
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Monday, June 8, 2020, the Atoka County Commissioners held their weekly meeting in person and via Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m.
In attendance were: Chairman Shane Tomlinson, Vice Chairman Gilbert Wilson, Commissioner Marvin Dale, County Clerk Christie Henry, Court Clerk April Maxey, Sheriff Tony Head, and from the Atoka County Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension office, Harold Stephens.
Chairman Shane Tomlinson turned the floor to Harold Stephens from the OSU Extension office to discuss the budget for the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year.
“The budget has not increased over the past few years,” Stephens stated. “Now it’s rough with such a large jump.” The current budget would need to support one educator and half pay of another, and one secretary.
The OSU Extension receives a budget of $22,000 per year from the county. Stephens brought three budget proposals to the commissioners to view. The largest budget was for $56,000, and decreased from there to $43,000, and $33,567.
Stephens reminded the commissioners his office would be returning $4,000 from the previous year that was allocated for travel expenses. Due to restrictions brought on by COVID-19 the department did not use these funds.
With the normal budget of $22,000 and the $4,000, Stephens asked the commissioners to consider which increase the county could handle.
“I feel confident we could manage $33,567 this year,” Vice Chairman Wilson commented. “With the $22,000 plus the $4,000 that could be turned back over to your office for the next year. The county would need to come up with $7,567, and I’m sure we could do that.”
The commissioners did not sign a contract with the OSU Extension office during the meeting, but have agreed the budget increase to $33,567 was manageable. Stephens will take the information back to OSU, and request the university cover two thirds of an educator pay instead of one half.
Patterson Road and Pittsburg Road in District One received some needed tin horns. Patterson received $11,651.94 in repairs, and Pittsburg received $16,018.49.
With a vote of two to one, Vice Chairman Wilson voted no, Chairman Tomlinson and Commissioner Dale voted yes, a new proposition will head to the ballot for Atoka County.
Currently, citizens of Atoka cannot purchase liquor on Sundays. The new proposition would allow liquor sales seven days a week.
Emergency Management Director Derrick Mixon was unavailable to give his update on Atoka County.
