By Charles Betzler
The Board moved forward on a combined Sheriff’s, Dispatch, Emergency Management Building by voting to expend ARPA funds in the amount of $16,800. Stephens stated that he contacted Reed Architecture and BKL Engineering, but said he never heard back from Reed Architecture and assumed they were too busy. Consequently, the Board hired BKL Engineering since the County has worked often with them.
“On this project, we have to have a feasibility study done. The requirements on that are: look at, number one, exiting the building and possibility of renovation. It is all done with cost factors.”
A local resident, Brooke Delong, asked Commissioners if the study would take into account asbestos and black mold remediation since the existing building in which the Sheriff is housed has a significant amount of asbestos and mold in it.
“It is a 1930s building, we don’t know what we are getting into, in 2011, we found all kinds of things inside that courthouse,” said Stephens.
Chair Stephens said the study would first determine the needs of the Sheriff and Emergency Management, then it would factor in the cost of rehabilitating and remodeling the building versus erecting a new structure. If a new structure were deemed the most viable solution, the scope of the study would include determining the most suitable location.
Stevens further stated that he had recently addressed the issue of a new combined facility with the Creek County Public Facilities Authority at their recent meeting. Stephens said: “They seemed really on board, doing whatever they could to help us with the project.”
Stephens then explained to the audience details of County ARPA funding: “We received 13.9 million dollars, and we had no clue how to spend it. It was really restricted and uneducated on what we could do with it. We let out 1.5 million for the water and sewer projects. As rulings came in and decisions were made on how we could spend that money from the treasury, for quite some time it was ongoing change. Once we finally got it done, and we found the ruling that there was 10 million we could transfer over to the general government fund, that simplified a lot of things going forward.
At the end of the day, I look at this as the same as I look at my daily deal. What best serves the most people is what our responsibility is. To serve this County, that is where we need to, in my opinion, keep our priorities focused on, to get it done where we serve the most people when we do these things.”
He concluded by saying, “I think we have spent this money very wisely thus far, I would really like to continue doing so.”
In other business:
The Board voted to approve a rezoning and lot split request from Michael and Lois Newman, per recommendations of the Creek County Planning Commission. Tract 1 will contain approximately 1.19 acres and will remain Light Residential. Tract 2 will contain approximately 0.67 acres and is being rezoned from Light Residential to Commercial District to allow the continued use of existing business. Both tracts will meet all requirements. The tracts are surrounded by Light Residential, Agricultural, and the Town of Kiefer. Planner Wendy Murray stated she received one call about the rezoning. This will bring the existing 20-year business into compliance. The CCPC recommended approval 8-0 on 5-16-23, along with the Planning Office. The property is located at 14311 S. 49th W. Ave, Kiefer, OK.
Commissioners voted to approve a rezoning and lot split request from Brandon and Julia Fiery, per recommendations of CCPC. Tract 1 will contain approximately .95 acres and will remain Agricultural. Tract 2 will contain approximately 15.2 acres, and will be rezoned from Agricultural District to Light Residential for an existing residence. Both tracts will meet all requirements. There was no opposition, and the CCPC recommended approval on 5-16-23, along with the Planning Office. Property located at 20204 W. 66th St. S. Sand Springs, OK.
The Board approved a rezoning and lot split request from Joe and Jessica Conley, per recommendations of CCPC. Tract 1 will contain approximately 140.77. Tract 2 will contain approximately 1.73 acres, and will be rezoned from Agricultural District to Residential Manufactured Home District for an existing home. Tracts are surrounded by Agricultural zoning. Both tracts will meet all requirements. Murray stated her office received “a few calls.” The CCPC recommended approval on 5-16-23, along with the Planning Office. Property located at 19521 S. 145th W. Avenue, Sapulpa, OK 74066.
Commissioners voted to approve a rezoning and lot split request from the RK Trust, per recommendations of CCPC. Tract 1 will contain approximately 1 acre, and is being rezoned from Agricultural District to Light Residential District. Tract 2 will remain a Light Residential District and Agricultural District containing approximately 6.96 acres. Therefore, Tract 2 will have dual zoning. Both Tracts are surrounded by Light Residential and Agricultural zoning. Both tracts will meet all requirements. There was no opposition. Murray stated this is just bringing the tracts into compliance. The CCPC recommended approval on 5-16-23, along with the Planning Office. Property located at 29665 Old HWY 66 Bristow, OK.
The Board voted to remove Requesting/Requisitioning Officer Stephanie Brandsness and add Anthony Beard for the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department Accounts 1321-2-8313-2005 and 1321-2-8313-4110. County Clerk Jennifer Mortazavi stated this request was sent in from the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department.
Stephens informed the Board that the County received an External Request from Milfay Volunteer Fire Department for a water well. Mortazavi stated, “I have been forwarded a copy via email. We have done some research and cannot find where they have an active SAMS.GOV registration. We did find where they had one that expired in 2019.”
Mortazavi stated any entity requesting ARPA funds along with suggested vendors must be actively registered in SAMS.GOV (The System for Award Management (SAM) is a government-wide registry for vendors doing business with the Federal government).
