Kingfisher County commissioners opened 29 bids Monday from companies seeking to provide materials for road construction work or do work on county roads during the first six months of the 2026 calendar year.

After opening the bids commissioners tabled action to allow staff time to compile them – lowest to highest – for final action at a subsequent meeting.

Prior to the start of agenda actions, Brad Wittrock of the Zyzer Co. of Kingfisher provided a letter of explanation regarding a change in the fall contract for road work in District 2.

Commissioners approved the change at an earlier meeting, switching one mile in the contract, but Wittrock submitted the letter explaining the change for the benefit of District 1 and 3 commissioners Jeff Moss and Anthony Schwarz, respectively, as well as to meet any potential questions from the office of state auditor and inspector.

District 2 Commissioner Michael Sparks told the Times & Free Press the change was made to use a load of asphalt feasibly and remove it from a roadway so as not to create a driving hazard.

In the only other action, commissioners approved an Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) invoice of $6,500 for right-of-way acquisition on a bridge over Turkey Creek on EW 715 west of Dover in District 2.

There was no agenda item on the hiring of a new Emergency Management director.

Commissioners held previous special meetings to conduct a number of interviews to find the successor for Ryan Deatherage, who resigned the post in October.

Besides the commissioners, others attending the meeting included Tiffany Jones, also of Zyzer, Wittrock, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Conaway, Fire Chief Ryan Gibson of Kingfisher, Hennessey Fire Chief Brandon Scott, County Clerk Emily Lee as official minute clerk, County Engineer Nik Smith, Sheriff Aaron Pitts and Kingfisher visitor Kelly Buck.