County commissioners last Monday quickly worked through an agenda that included an agreement with Dover Schools as well as helping secure funds for PPE reimbursement.

Commissioners unanimously agreed to a resolution authorizing the Kingfisher County Educational Facilities Authority to issue a series of lease revenue bonds “for the benefit of Dover Public Schools.”

Dover voters in late August passed a $15.6 million construction bond issue to build a new elementary school.

This method of financing allows the school to construct the entire project under one contract at current construction costs and then pay for it over time with future inflated dollars, according to Dover Superintendent Max Thomas.

The authority issues revenue bonds to provide funds for the schools project. The bonds can’t exceed $12.5 million.

It’s expected, according to Thomas, the principal amount will be about $10.3 million, but the extra $1.2 million provides a “cushion so that if we are able to issue more we don’t have to go back to the authority to request a larger amount.”

Through the agreement, the school leases its land (project site) to the authority and the authority constructs the project on that site.

The authority then subleases the land back to the school including the improvements.

Under the sublease, the school makes lease payments to acquire portions of the project and the authority uses the revenues received from the school to retire the revenue bonds.

The authority assigns the responsibilities to a trustee bank, so everything is handled centrally by the trustee. The only responsibility of the authority is to perform an annual audit and the trustee bank handles everything else.

The county authority, which consists of county commissioners, met and approved a similar resolution prior to the commission meeting. In the second meeting, commissioners put it into action.

The Lomega school district has a similar agreement with the county authority in the construction of its new high school.

Now, Dover’s board of education will vote on approving two resolutions authorizing the district to enter into a ground lease agreement and a sublease agreement between the school and the authority.

Thomas said that is expected to take place at the January regular meeting.

Voting for the agreement were Ray Alan Shimanek, Jeff Moss and Anthony Schwarz.

Schwarz is the District 3 foreman and was sitting in for commissioner Heath Dobrovolny, who was absent from the meeting.

Thomas was also at the meeting for the vote.

Those on hand also voted to approve a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The agreement reimburses 100 percent of the county’s Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) purchases through the Oklahoma CARES Act.

The county will receive back $13,888 through the agreement.

County Emergency Director Steve Loftis prepared the paperwork in order for the county to receive the funds.

Loftis also updated the county on active COVID-19 cases in the county, which numbered 149 at the time of the meeting.

The 2020 county employee handbook was approved.

County Engineer Nik Smith noted only a couple of significant changes. One was regarding the county’s “open door policy” and the other was regarding drug tests for employees.

Two pipeline crossings were given approval. One is for Ovintiv and is located nine miles west of Kingfisher and one mile south; the other is for K&J Construction and is five miles south of Kingfisher and one mile east.

The commissioners also approved a resolution stating no federal funding will be utilized in the replacement of a bridge over Uncle John’s Creek. From Okarche, the bridge is located three miles east, one north and then another one-half mile east.

County Pipeline Inspector Cody Murray was also in attendance.