Kingfisher County commissioners took steps to update the Kingfisher County Hazard Mitigation Plan Monday at their weekly meeting.

Commissioners asked for public participation in efforts to discuss and update the plan.

Cities, towns and school districts are asked to participate in the effort to update and improve the plan, which was last approved in 2011, County Commission Chairman Heath Dobrovolny said.

The county is working with the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority and Oklahoma Economic Development Authority (NODA-OEDA) to produce an update to the Kingfisher County plan.

Topics of concern are the frequency and severity of natural hazards and how the community can be better prepared for future hazardous events, such as drought, earthquake, extreme heat, expansive soils, flood, hail, thunderstorms, tornado, wildfire and winter storms.

Expansive soil is a soil/ clay (such as montmorillonite or bentonite) that is prone to expansion or shrinkage due directly to variation in water volume. Expansive soils swell when exposed to large amounts of water and shrink, leaving cracks in the ground when the water evaporates.

“We would like everyone in the county who is interested in hazard mitigation to send comments to Gail Thomas at OEDA (580-- 823-7657) or email gthomas@ oeda.org or Kingfisher County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis at kingfisher.county. oem@gmail.com,” Dobrovolny said. Kingfisher County was awarded a grant from OEM and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct the plan update.

The total project cost is estimated to be $60,000. The grant will cover 90% of the cost.

To recover the remaining 10%, Loftis, as emergency management director, will perform administrative work, provide information, review drafts and manage the grant. This type of arrangement is known as “in-kind contribution,” Dobrovolny said.

NODA and OEDA will perform all other tasks to complete the plan update.

Loftis, who attended the meeting, advised commissioners he is completing a survey in District 3 at this time – taking photos and describing new bridges and roads in the Cashion area, meeting FEMA requirements.

Dobrovolny and District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss, vice-chairman, handled the following agenda action items in the absence of District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek who was on vacation:

• Paid $1,000 in legal fees to Durbin, Larimore & Bialick, PC, for services rendered on the Uncle John Creek bridge at the east edge of Kingfisher on Robberts Avenue.

• Removed former City Manager Dave Slezickey as requisitioning officer and added Assistant Fire Chief Richard Butts as requisitioning officer for the Kingfisher Fire Department. Butts also was relieved as receiving officer.

• Approved a resolution for disposing of surplus equipment for the county clerk’s office – an Eltron thermal label printer.

• Approved a resolution to dispose of a 2017 Dodge pickup for District 1, which had been destroyed by a lightning strike and insurance collected.

• Approved an exemption certificate for the purchase of belly dump trailers (a request from Irwin Trailer Co. as counties are not required to pay federal excise tax).

• Approved a county personal protective equipment policy.

• Approved a county safety and loss control program, meeting OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and all federal regulations.

• Approved a Pinnacle Consulting Management Group claim of $5,400 for right-of-way work on the Phillips Bridge on Lemon Road, northeast of Kingfi sher, which is scheduled for replacement. Moss predicted work would begin on the bridge during the 2024 calendar year.

• Approved county hazard communication policy updates and emergency action plan updates.

• Approved a permit for K&J Construction to lay 12-inch and three-inch lay flat lines across a county road four miles south and 11 miles east of Hennessey, District 2.

• Approved a permit for BCE Mach II Midstream Holdings to lay a permanent 10-inch water line across a county road six miles south and nine miles east of Hennessey, District 2.

• Approved Okarche Rural Water District to install a permanent two-inch line located eight miles west and one mile north of Okarche, District 3.

Commissioners tabled action on a $3,000 claim from Pinnacle for work on a bridge over an unnamed creek in District 2 until next week when Shimanek can be present.

Others present for the meeting were County Engineer Nik Smith, 911 Director Ryan Deatherage and County Clerk Jeannie Boevers as official minute clerk.