Kingfisher County commissioners approved a fiscal year 2019-2020 county budget totaling $17,161,762.18 at their weekly meeting Monday, up from $13,891,898.12 a year earlier.

County budget maker John Storm, CPA, of the firm of Storm and Hauser told commissioners the budget was “hot off the press” after receiving valuations for the current fiscal year.

County Assessor Carolyn Mulherin certified the county’s net property valuations at $473,014,430 for the current year, up from $410,561,583 a year earlier.

The county budget is based largely on ad valorem tax derived from property valuations, plus carry-over from the preceding year’s budget.

Most Kingfisher County school districts had valuation increases this year compared to last year.

Commissioners approved purchasing a water softener system and service agreement from Culligan for the new county jail at a cost of $150 per quarter, tabled action on participating in a county road machinery equipment fund through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), approved monthly activity reports from several departments, approved an emergency transportation fund through Central Engineering District 8, appointed Northern Oklahoma Development Authority (NODA) as the county’s agent in dealing with Oklahoma Emergency Management, approved monthly state reimbursements for the election board and assistant district attorney offices and added Michelle Helm, new receptionist at the county extension office, and Lindy Hoel as receiving officers and Laine Martin and Bryan Kennedy as requisition officers for the Kingfisher County OSU Extension Office.

Helm succeeds Denise Boots, who has retired, as extension office receptionist.

Patty Licklider of NODA attended, explaining that the appointment puts the county in line for grants that may become available.

Doug Schweitzer, Culligan representative, attended the meeting to explain his firm’s service agreement.

Van Storm, project manager for the county jail project, told commissioners that one jail of which he knew had to replace its water pipes within seven years after dropping use of its water softener system.

Sheriff Dennis Banther told commissioners the proposed amount was within bid and budget estimates.

District 3 Commissioner Heath Dobrovolny said the county has until Oct. 1 to decide about the ODOT revolving fund and moved to table action to allow further study. District 2 Commissioner Ray Shimanek, who chaired the meeting in the absence of District 1 Commissioner and chairman Jeff Moss. joined Dobrovolny in voting yes on the action.

The following county road pipeline crossing permits received approval:

• McDonald Land Services – three-inch water line three miles east and one mile north of Omega, District 3.

• Encana – three inch water line six miles north of Omega, District 3.

• Chisholm Oil and Gas – 12-inch water line one mile south and six miles west of Hennessey, District 2.

• Complete Energy Services – three-inch water line four miles south and four miles west of Hennessey, District 2.

• Lagoon Water Logistics – two six-inch permanent water lines in District 1, one located eight miles east of Kingfisher and one located one mile east of Kingfisher.

• Complete Energy Solutions – two three-inch water lines, one located two miles north and seven miles east of Kingfisher in District 1 and one located six miles east of Dover in District 2.

• Randy Farrar Cattle Co. – one-inch poly water line two miles north and three miles west of Kingfisher, District 3.

• Encana – three-inch water line four miles north of Omega, District 3.

• Vernon Pope – public service access drive located four miles west and three miles north of Loyal, District 3.

• ONEOK Gas Transportation – public service access drive five miles west and four miles south of Cashion, District 1.

Assistant County Clerk Emily Lee served as recording secretary at the meeting. County Pipeline Inspector Cody Murray and County Engineer Nik Smith also attended the meeting.