Kingfisher County commissioners heard a report from Kingfisher Fire Chief Tony Stewart regarding pursuit of a grant to replace the department’s outdated hose Monday at their regular meeting.

Stewart said the department has been operating on old, used hose and needs new hose.

He is pursuing an 80-20 grant from the state forestry department that will provide up to $20,000 to buy new hose.

Stewart said all the Kingfisher Fire Department vehicles make rural runs.

He estimated a total cost of $45,000 to replace the aged hose. Fire hose has a 10-year life expectancy.

Stewart’s remarks came under the correspondence and reports and notes and not an action item, so no vote was taken.

Stewart advised the Times and Free Press after the meeting that the department estimate to replace old hose totaled $48,595, involving 1,250 feet of four-inch hose at $29,150; 2,250 feet of 2.5-inch hose at $7,150; 2,750 feet of 1.75-inch hose at $6,805; 880 feet of one-inch hose at $4,715, plus five four-inch fittings at $765.

Stewart said all department units are subject to rural fire calls. The most frequently used rural fire units are three brush trucks, a tanker and an engine (large truck). A second engine and a ladder truck are subject to use when needed.

Funds for the purchase would come from sales tax money collected exclusively for rural fire departments.

Commissioners opened bids on two items.

A bid of $20,889 from Miller Flooring of Oklahoma City was accepted to replace flooring on the first floor of the courthouse annex building. District 3 Commissioner Heath Dobrovolny, noting that the bid was in line with other estimates he had obtained, moved to accept the bid, with District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss seconding and District 2 Commissioner and board chairman, Ray Alan Shimanek, joining them in making the motion to approve unanimous.

Later Dobrovolny moved to table action on bids for paving five miles of county road in District 3 to allow time for study. That action was approved unanimously, also.

Bidders on the project included Schwarz Paving Co., $1,821,586.74; Cummins Construction, $2,245,324.75, and Haskell Lemon Construction $1,788,555.

The roads scheduled for paving work include County NS2700 (Omega Highway), plus EW 790, which leads to the Omega Cemetery and EW 780, which leads to the town of Omega.

Commissioners approved a list of eight county bridge projects that Circuit Engineering District 8 proposed be recommended to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for matching “engineering relief” funds.

The projects include three in District 1, two in District 2, and two in District 3.

A third project in District 2 had received approval at an earlier meeting.

CED 8 Engineer Donnie Head attended the meeting to discuss the proposals, reviewing each project.

Commissioners approved a notice to bid for a 2015 or newer motor grader for District 3.

Dobrovolny said he is seeking one newer grader to replace two older machines.

Kingfisher City-County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis reported an upsurge in county COVID-19 cases with the state health department showing 71 cases in Hennessey, 12 in Kingfisher, three in Okarche and one each in Dover and Cashion.

Shimanek thanked all those attending for standing during the flag salute, which opens each commissioner meeting.

Those attending, in addition to county commissioners, included County Clerk Jeannie Boevers, who serves as minute clerk, Sheriff Dennis Banther, County Engineer Nik Smith, Loftis, and Jake Graham of Zyzer Asphalt and Construction.