Atoka County Commissioners Meeting – Employee Has Been Cleared
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The Atoka County Commissioners meeting was held Monday, August 31, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.
The Courthouse re-opened on Monday after being closed for two weeks after an employee tested positive for COVID.
In attendance for the meeting were: Commissioner Chairman Shane Tomlinson, Commissioner Vice-Chairman Gilbert Wilson, Commissioner Marvin Dale, County Clerk Christie Henry, Treasurer Kim Harkey, Sheriff Tony Head, County Assessor Joe McClour, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director Randy Bryant, and Commissioner Secretary Angie Birdsong.
The approval or disapproval of claims and blanket purchases was categorized differently that morning.
The Board began with the in-compliance purchases. In-compliance refers to purchase orders that were submitted correctly to the County Clerk’s office for payments.
The Commissioners received a check for $1,000 from the State of Oklahoma for Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) account. The details of the grant were unavailable due to the Emergency Management Director Derrick Mixon being absent from the meeting.
District Three received a reimbursement for gravel from the City of Atoka for $140.00.
District Two will be reimbursed from FEMA in the amount of $8,687.67 for road repairs during the damaging storms in April 2019.
The next item on the agenda were purchase orders that were non-compliance. County Clerk Christie Henry met with the Atoka County District Attorney to find the best way to approach the task of compliance in the departments.
“He suggested I put the item on the agenda so that we may discuss the problems we’ve been having with the purchase orders.”
Henry explained: The DA said if after the Board meeting the procedure was not helped, he could attend the meeting to discuss the issue further.
The non-compliance purchase orders were from several departments. The Sheriff’s office provided a detailed letter with their purchase orders explaining why the correct process was not followed.
“At the time, the budget money was not setup. It has been set now… We know the jail always struggles with funding. He has to feed them (inmates).” Henry explained.
“Sometimes the funds aren’t there, but he will go ahead and order food. It’s the way it has been for years and years, I wish we could find a different solution.”
The Stringtown Fire Department, Hopewell Fire Department, District Two, and District Three were among the Departments with non-compliance purchase orders. The purchase orders were approved by the Board.
Payroll was approved during the meeting. The Board transferred funds into the Highway Department account to cover the salary for the Commissioners’ Secretary. All three districts share the salary, one district pays the total salary, and the other two reimburse the amount.
Thyssenkrupp Elevator Service was approved to look for an inspector to complete the mandatory inspection of the Courthouse elevator. The Board approved Thyssenkrupp to hire the inspector in the amount of $525.00.
The financial statement for Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 amendment was approved.
Treasurer Kim Harkey explained the reason for the amendment. “It was because some of the transfers were down backwards when I came into office and found them. It was a suggestion from the Auditor that the ending match the beginning. Nothing really changed, the numbers were just not fixed correctly last year.”
The Election Board’s monthly report was approved.
The invoice for Pacific Road in District Three was approved. The road received gravel and tin horns in the amount of $12,020.32.
District One repaired tin horn and gravel work on Coal Creek Road in the amount of $11,125.52.
The annual AP-100 form for the Circuit Engineering District Auction Policies was approved. The form referred to the auction the Districts uses in McAlester.
EMS Director Randy Bryant updated the Board on EMS business. Currently, they are short staffed due to sickness, but are working hard.
The EMS was approved for a grant to acquire a ventilator for the ambulance.
Area Volunteer Fire Departments have EMRs and EMTs on staff. To keep their agency state standards can be very difficult. Bryant informed the Board that only one has managed to keep in compliance over the past few years.
Bryant has worked with the State of Oklahoma Department of Health and with the fire chiefs to make EMRs and EMTs honorary EMS employees to help with compliance. This will allow First Responders to continue helping patients prior to EMS arrival.
“It’s going to be a great thing for the county.”
Bryant advised the Board that a selected representative for Atoka County may apply for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act reimbursements. This money is available to County Departments affected by the Coronavirus.
The employee, that tested positive for the Coronavirus, has been cleared by the Health Department to return to work, and is no longer contagious.
