Four federally-funded roadway projects in District 1 totaling $1,353,000 to permanently repair damage occurring during 2019 flooding received approval at Monday’s meeting of Kingfisher County commissioners.

Two of the projects are on the Dover-Crescent Road, totaling $162,000, a third, requiring $1,100,000 is the Kingfisher Creek bridge on Lemon Road and the fourth project will make repairs to East 720 Road .2 mile north of N 2880 Road.

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss said the Federal Highway Department will handle the projects, probably through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Although no starting date on the projects has been set, Moss hopes the projects can begin by the end of the current year.

“We could have never made this amount of repairs without the help of the federal highway department,” Moss said.

Commissioners disapproved a resolution for a temporary burn ban after generous rains covered the county from Friday through Monday night.

Commissioners unanimously approved renewing a $55,000 contract with Total Assessment Solutions Corp.to perform oilfield assessments during the 2021 fiscal year which had been tabled at an earlier meeting and was the subject of a special meeting last week with a TASC representative.

District 2 Commissioner Ray Shimanek, chairman, commented after the vote that he would never vote for renewing a contract with TASC again if it agrees to a reduction in an assessment on a company as it did last year.

(Ed. Note: 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.)

Kingfisher City-County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis reported that COVID-19 cases increased to 19 over the past week with all new cases at Hennessey. She said six active cases remain in the county.

Commissioners approved the purchase of dump trucks for Districts 1 and 3 on low bids of $63,500, submitted by Cummins Equipment Co.

District 3 Commissioner Heath Dobrovolny moved to accept Cummins bid for his district. Other bidders were Summit Auto Group, $73,950, and Premier Truck Group, $93,900.

Moss moved to accept the bid for District 1. Summit Auto Group submitted a bid of $88,265 and Premier Truck Group bid $94,500.

Commissioners also approved a low bid of $192,500 from Cummins Equipment Co. to purchase a 2016 diesel motor grader for District 1. Warren Caterpillar submitted a bid of $195,000 on a 2015 grader.

Commissioners approved a motion to proceed on two projects for Rural Water District No. 3, on which bids were approved at an earlier meeting – $23,500 for the Ground Guys and $88,300 for Kinard Painting and Sandblasting.

Agreements with two juvenile detention centers – Canadian County and ROCKMND Area Youth Services, authorizing Sheriff Dennis Banther to house under age detainees on an as-needed basis at those facilities – received approval. A resolution authorizing

A resolution authorizing District 3 to move forward on an asphalt overlay on the Omega blacktop (NS 2700 Road) also received approval.

A contract on the project last year was cancelled after the bidding company owner died, and the owner’s father who was closing out the business, requested that the contract be voided.

A declaration as surplus of an assortment of equipment for the county emergency management office was approved. The list included an assortment of typewriters, copiers, radios, printers, a computer and office chairs.

A Dell computer for the county election board was declared surplus, also.

The ACCO liability insurance policy renewal for the county at a quote of $119,247 – to be paid in one payment for a savings – received approval.

Also present for the meeting were County Clerk Jeannie Boevers, minute clerk, Assistant County Clerk Emily Lee, County Engineer Nik Smith and RWD#3 Engineer Phil Brown.