The first order of business for the three Commissioners, Chair Leon Warner from District 2, Lane Whitehouse from District 3, and Newt Stephens from District 1, was presented by Jim Madden from Sapulpa FOP Lodge 94. Madden asked that the Four Kings LE/MC Poker Run be allowed to start at the County Courthouse Complex on April 27, 2019, as a fundraiser for “Maverick” who was born with cystic fibrosis. The proceeds will go to his family to pay for medical expenses. This event begins at 9 a.m. and all types of vehicles are welcome. It will return to the Courthouse Complex around 6:30 p.m. Food, drinks, and music will be at the gazebo. Prices vary from Passenger for $10 to High Hand for $200. The Commissioners quickly approved it with the proviso that the area would be cleaned up afterward, and they were assured it would be.
The next vital item was the Commissioners publicly stating and signing a resolution that the Drumright Health Department Building at 420 E. Broadway in Drumright was not needed for courthouse or jail purposes and also that the Drumright Health Department Building be transferred to the Creek County Industrial Authority whose job it will be to find a buyer for the property.
This property has been vacated for over a year and insurance can be removed from the property. It would be the CCIA that would directly benefit from the sale of the building.
Chairman Warner said, “It will be nice to get this resolved.” And Commissioner Stephens reminded all that it will increase the ad valorem taxes so all the county will benefit.
There was a brief Executive Session in which the leaders discussed the ongoing lawsuits with Wright v. Creek County and Eldredge v. Creek County.
The county also renewed Inter-Cooperative agreements with Lonestar Public Schools, the City of Bristow, the City of Kellyville, and with South 299th West Avenue Rural Road Improvement District.
The Alcohol Beverage Tax Allocation for March was also approved: $24,577.14 Total Tax Revenue. Among the cities benefitting are Sapulpa, $13,787.78; Kellyville, $771.72; Kiefer, $1,130.55; Mounds, $784.01; Drumright, $1,951.42; Bristow, $2,828.82.
The county leaders also briefly discussed leasing the jail and juvenile center. The jail lease runs from fiscal year to fiscal year, so the commissioners are putting into “writing what has been done.” The Trust owns the property, and the county leases it from the Trust. The cost was $10.00 with a low yearly fee.
The Sheriff Brett Bowling said, “There is no statutory obligation to run the juvenile facility,” but the county does. County Attorney Andrew Goforth stated the tenancy “can be modified from time to time.” Then Chairman Leon Warner said, “Two separate facilities, two separate rules.”
Meeting adjourned, and the next one will take place on April 22, at 9 a.m. in the Collins Building.
