Kingfisher County commissioners revised an inactive Kingfisher County trust to include a trust to operate the county jail Monday at their weekly meeting.

The action came after Enid attorney David Henneke discussed the jail trust authority with commissioners a week earlier in an executive (closed to the public) session. Henneke was present at Monday’s meeting for follow-up actions on the matter.

Commissioners hired Henneke on Monday for transition of the jail operation to the Kingfisher Criminal Justice Authority.

Henneke, who serves as a member of the jail trust in Garfield County, said the action would take pressure off the sheriff regarding jail operations, basing that on the experience in Garfield County.

Undersheriff Ed Cangiano reported efforts are already under way in the sheriff’s office to facilitate the change-over.

Several other actions were approved by commissioners regarding the jail trust during the meeting, including the following:

• Reducing the number of trust members from seven to five;

• Approving a lease agreement with the Kingfisher County Criminal Justice Authority;

• Approving transfer of the operation, maintenance and administration of the jail from county commissioners to the trust authority, and,

• Approving Storm and Hauser, P.C., as consultant for the jail trust.

Commission Chairman Anthony Schwarz said members of the trust board had not been appointed, but commissioners were in the process of interviewing potential appointees.

Commissioners approved construction contracts with Circuit Engineering District No. 8 on asphalt overlay projects in all three districts.

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss replied in response to a question that the asphalt projects would not start until after July 1.

They also approved a resale property fund financial statement and contracts with Eastern Oklahoma Youth Services and Canadian County Juvenile Detention for housing Kingfisher County juvenile detainees on an as-needed basis.

The tabulated bids – lowest to highest – for road and bridge materials and commercial roadway work for all three districts which were opened a week earlier received approval.

Also approved was a resolution for the county election board, allowing representatives to receive pay and expenses by the state treasurer’s office for hours or travel related to federal, state, school, municipal meetings as recommended by the state auditor’s office.

They also authorized a notice to proceed on a contract with Kingfisher County Rural Water District No. 3 for a water line replacement.

A right-of-way permit for MarkWest/Glenn Energy for two 12-inch steel water line road crossings was approved at a location three miles west and three miles south of Loyal in District 3.

In addition to county commissioners attending the meeting – Anthony Schwarz, District 3, chairman; Moss, District 1, vice chairman, and Mike Sparks, District 2 – were County Clerk Emily Lee as official minute clerk, County Engineer Nik Smith, County Emergency Management Director Ryan Deatherage, Cangiano, Election Board Secretary Shawna Butts, Kevin Lane, equipment company representative, and Kelly Buck, citizen attendee.

AM