Kingfisher County COVID-19 cases increased to 27 cases (20 recovered), Kingfisher City-County Emergency Manager Steve Loftis reported to county commissioners Monday.

The increase from 19 last week elicited no additional action by the board of county commissioners for the county which will continue current precautions as the county continues to return to normal after earlier shutdown procedures due to the pandemic.

Loftis reported the following numbers of coronavirus cases by community: Hennessey nine, Kingfisher eight, Okarche six, Cashion three and Dover one (recovered).

Loftis reported that county nursing homes and assisted living centers are enacting voluntary precautionary measures, including such things as serving meals in rooms, outside visitation and other efforts to encourage separation to prevent spread of the disease (each facility enacting its own measures – no state requirement).

Kingfisher Fire Chief Tony Stewart discussed plans for Geo Safe, a GPS program that county fire departments use to coordinate activities during emergencies.

Stewart reported that an old Kingfisher Fire Chiefs savings account at Inter-Bank had been cashed in to add to county funds so that 10 county emergency agencies will have $1,096.78 each to finance the project.

Stewart said many state departments use the system to coordinate cooperative efforts.

He said Kingfisher County departments have been using the program for about eight years.

Commissioners Ray Alan Shimanek, District 2 (chairman), Heath Dobrovolny, District 3 (vice-chairman), and Jeff Moss, District 1 (member), gave unanimous approval to the following actions:

•election board reimbursement for the month of June,

•authorizing a stop sign on EW Road 870 at NS 2820 Road in District 3 (near Karrenbrock Veterinary Clinic north of Okarche),

•disposal of surplus equipment for the Emergency Management office and District 1,

•an agreement with the Pittsburg County Regional Juvenile Detention Center (to house Kingfisher County juvenile detainees on an as-needed basis), and,

•the appointment of Project Manager Acquisition (dealing with right-of-way) on the Turkey Creek bridge project southwest of Hennessey in District 2 in the amount of $5,700.

Also present for the meeting were County Clerk Jeannie Boevers, who served as minute clerk and County Engineer Nik Smith.

Sheriff Dennis Banther, who was present before the meeting started, submitted a letter about his term nearing an end on the 9-1-1 board. Discussion on the letter did not occur during the meeting.