Kingfisher County commissioners tabled action on renewing the contract of Total Assessment Solutions Corp.(TASC) in the amount of $55,000 at their weekly meeting Monday.

The company has been assessing oil and gas properties for ad valorem tax purposes.

District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek commented that he was not in favor of approving the contract based on past communications with company officials.

TASC came under scrutiny last year regarding a contested tax payment made by DCP after a suit was filed in Kingfisher County District Court.

More than $2,755,084 in ad valorem taxes were paid by DCP under protest during tax years 2015-18.

DCP challenged its property valuation each year appealing what it considered unfavorable decisions by the county board of adjustment, upholding the county’s valuations.

Lawsuits filed for each year were consolidated into a single journal entry when a mediated agreement was reached. Of the $2.75 million held in escrow, $875,530 was refunded to DCP plus another $1,708.10 in interest.

The tax retained by the county was about 21 percent less than first levied but more than twice DCP’s request.

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss made the motion to table action and District 3 Commissioner Heath Dobrovolny joined Moss and Shimanek in the vote to table.

Since the contract wouldn’t go into effect until July 1 for the next fiscal year, County Clerk Jeannie Boevers pointed out there was still time to employ a oil and gas assessment company to assist the county assessor’s office on oilfield assessments.

TASC requested a 10 percent increase in its contract for the 2021 fiscal year – to $55,000 from $50,000.

Dobrovolny reviewed a report on a number of legislative bills approved during the last session affecting county government as compiled by the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO).

Commissioners approved a modification agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (regarding right-of-way) on a bridge over Turkey Creek 4.5 miles south and 2.4 miles west of Hennessey ( District 2) and plans for the bridge and approaches (ODOT #28439).

Work on the bridge is expected to start in the fall.

A transfer of funds for Rural Water District No. 3 received approval, reimbursement from a $9,590 NODA Grant for improvements to the district’s facilities.

Two actions in District 3 received approval, a bridge replacement on Park Community Road and a permanent water line permit to cross a road four miles south and one-fourth mile west of Kingfisher.

Other routine actions approved included monthly financial reports for various county offices, the court clerk records management and preservation fund, reimbursements from the state for the election board and district attorney’s offices and monthly appropriations and transfers for the month of May.

Mike Dobrinski of Okeene, a Republican candidate for House District 59, succeeding Mike Sanders who is term-limiting out of the position, City-county Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis who made a coronavirus report for the county (no new cases), Sheriff Dennis Banther, County Engineer Nik Smith and Pipeline Inspector Cody Murray also attended the meeting.