Kingfisher County commissioners approved a rating criteria for use of American Recovery Program Act funds as authorized by the state auditor and inspector’s office at their weekly meeting Monday.

The items in order of approval include the following: purchase of COVID test kits for the county jail, purchase of stand-alone thermometer screening systems, construction of a 40-by-30-foot drive-through building for the health department for vaccinations and testing, purchase of a backup generator for the health department’s new location, purchase of a filtration system for HVAC units in the courthouse, health department and county jail and installation of a public service window for the county clerk’s office.

Commissioners approved a solicitation of bids for the purchase of three new or used motor graders (one for each commissioner district).

The graders must be 2017 models or newer sixwheel drive with front lift group and all standard equipment.

Bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. Nov. 12 in the office of County Clerk Jeannie Boevers and opened at the commissioners’ meeting on Nov. 15. Bid packets are available from the purchasing agent in the county clerk’s office.

As a side note, Commission Chairman Heath Dobrovolny mentioned that John Deere workers went on strike at all six plants last week.

A COVID report for the county showed an active number of 30 cases, down five from the preceding week. The report by community included: Cashion three (no change) Dover one (up one), Hennessey nine (no change), Kingfisher 13 (no change), Okarche three (no change), Loyal one (down three) and Omega zero (down three).

A proposed contract with AIP Architectural Services related to the Kingfisher County Health Department building received approval along with several county road projects, including:

• A public service access drive for Markwest Oklahoma Gas Co. with an 18-inch culvert located four miles west of N2890 Road on E 790 Road in District 1. Commissioner Jeff Moss moved for approval.

• K&J Construction – four-inch and 12-inch poly water lines located at the edge of Dover, District 2; and 12-inch water line in District 1 located four miles south and two miles east of Kingfisher in District 1. District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek moved for approval of both.

• Ovintiv – four 12-inch water lines in District 1, one located three miles east and three miles north of Kingfisher, one located five miles east and five miles south of Kingfisher, one located three miles east and two miles south of Kingfisher, and one located three miles east and one mile south of Kingfisher.

• Blue Star Land Services – three inch poly line located two miles south and six miles east of Hennessey, District 2.

Commissioners reported several meetings they were scheduled to attend during the week, including a Circuit Engineering District 8 meeting at Alva on Tuesday, a health insurance meeting and a county 911 emergency calling service board meeting on Monday.

County Engineer Nik Smith reminded that a series of county safety training meetings were scheduled to begin on Thursday, Oct. 28, – CPR training at the Chisholm Trail Technology Center.