Carolyn M. Bowen

The Grady County School Finance Authority trustees conducted a special meeting where key actions included the approval of the Financial Report and correspondence received since the prior meeting. The authority also passed a resolution establishing annual notice for regularly scheduled public meetings. Furthermore, payment requests for attorney fees totaling $2,550.00 for actions taken by Perryman & Perryman, L.L.P. were approved. Separately, the Grady County Commissioners held a regular meeting. Discussions included an update on the GCEMA/Fire Report/Safety Director activities, such as the cancellation of the Nomad Communications meeting and an upcoming Southwest Healthcare Communications Drill. The award of an EMPG grant of $30,000.00 was noted, and progress on various facility maintenance tasks, including ramp completion and tree removal, was reported. New business involved reviewing quotes for speed bumps in the Courthouse parking lot and discussing paving assistance for the Canadian Valley Vo-Tech parking lot via an interlocal agreement. The board re-appointed James Neal to the McClain-Grady County EMS District #1 Board of Trustees. They also discussed supporting the Grady County Fire Department's SCBA equipment replacement using ARPA funds. Approvals were granted for a contract between Grady County & Middleberg Public School, an agreement regarding truck usage between District 1 and General funds, a resolution for a highway project, depositing a $20,000.00 check from LeFlore County into Highway District 1 Capital Outlay, and approval of blanket purchase orders. The commissioners also reviewed and approved numerous other purchase orders, noting several instances where proper purchasing procedures were not followed.

Key discussions during the meeting included a report on the status of COVID-19 in Grady County, noting 215 active cases and 80 deaths, and that the county moved to the yellow alert level. The GCEMA/Fire Report detailed changes to the Ice Storm Assessment classification and confirmed the vaccination site schedule. Safety discussions covered new hire orientation, courthouse door safety upgrades, and concerns regarding high Radon levels in the District Attorney building basement. The board voted not to re-appoint two individuals to the Grady County Fire Board. Policy updates included approving changes to the Grady County Covid Policy to align with CDC guidelines and FFCRA. Several contractual and financial matters were approved, such as contracts with Kone Care and Forte, pipeline road crossing permits, and a comprehensive list of purchase orders across various county departments. New business involved a notification that a vendor would not honor a bid for tinhorns, and information regarding potential property acquisition for extra parking.

The Commissioners reviewed and approved blanket purchase orders, noting several instances where proper purchasing procedures were not followed, requiring follow-up. Key new business involved discussing the completion timeline for the Vo-Tech parking lot and approving a quote for a locking cage to secure a generator at the Health Department due to parts being removed. The Board rescinded and rebid a concrete portion of a previous bid and approved a bid request for an addition to the District 3 building. Several lease agreements and interlocal agreements were approved, including maintenance agreements for District 1 and lease agreements for the Sheriff's department. Personnel matters were discussed in executive session, resulting in the reassignment of an employee within the Emergency Management office. Significant discussion focused on the Courthouse remodel plans, ultimately leading to the approval to add a fourth courtroom, a break room, deputy lockers, and a maintenance area to the third floor plans. The Board also approved monthly officer reports and budget transfer requests.

The Grady County School Finance Authority meeting involved tabling action on the donation of surplus funds to the Grady County Commissioners and tabling action on guidelines for future donations and value limits. The Board approved the Engagement Letter from Angel, Johnston & Blasingame, PC for the 2024-2025 Audit, approved the Financial Report, and approved correspondence received since the previous meeting. Furthermore, approval was granted for the request for payment for attorney fees incurred from actions taken by Perryman & Perryman, L.L.P.

Key discussions during the meeting included receiving an update from the GCEMA/Fire Report/Safety Director regarding the handling of uninsured storm damages and clarifying the departmental cost split for the SOR E-Cop invoice, which the Commissioners confirmed would remain the same. The financials for the Fire Board Budget were presented but not approved due to a canceled meeting lacking a quorum. Updates were provided on motor vehicle accidents and an upcoming course for the reported official. New business involved addressing procedures for the disposition of unclaimed bodies from the hospital. Various actions were taken, including approvals for a Resale Financial Statement, a Certificate of Returns of Resale of real estate for delinquent tax, and the Hux Grove plat map, with the stipulation that the County will not maintain its roads. Approvals were granted for the Court Clerk's office to use Storage R Us, a Transfer of Inventory for Juror Chairs, the purchase and financing of two new Tahoe vehicles for the Sheriff's Department, and several FY 2023-2024 contracts for the Sheriff's Department. Maintenance agreements were approved for Kellpro Software and Service and Standley Systems across multiple county offices. The Lease Renewal Agreement for office space at 205 W. Chickasha Ave. with AGI Graphics Inc. was approved, and subsequent motions were passed to resend approval and then table the renewal agreement with the South-Central Oklahoma Workforce Board for the same location. The ACCO-SIG Property/Liability renewal quote was approved for payment. A resolution to Execute the Agreement Establishing the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma was approved, as was a Declaration of Surplus for Grady County District 2. A check from Minco Public Schools was approved for deposit into the County Highway M&O Account for road materials reimbursement. Approval was granted for utility/pipeline road crossing permits, waterline/fast-line permits, and driveway/tinhorn permits for Districts #2 & #3, as well as Blanket Purchase Orders. A comprehensive list of purchase orders generated during the current and previous months was approved for payment. An estimate of needs, request for appropriations, and transfer of appropriations for several departments were also approved.