Hennessey Fire Chief-Mayor Bert Gritz and Assistant Fire Chief James Matousek visited with Kingfisher County Commissioners Tuesday about soliciting bids for expanding the Hennessey Fire Department.

“Our plans are ready,” Matousek said.

County commissioners are required to solicit bids for the project as it will be paid though the Hennessey Fire Department’s portion of a countywide sales tax.

“That’s the only reason we’re involved,” Commission Chairman Heath Dobrovolny said.

Matousek said he would like two weeks to study bids after they are received, to which commissioners agreed.

County Engineer Nik Smith asked that a set of the plans be made available to his office so that they could be made available in case any last-minute bidders show up.

The actual solicitation for bids is expected to appear on next week’s county meeting agenda for formal action.

Commissioners unanimously reappointed James Wittrock to the county excise-equalization board. He was nominated to the position by District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss with second by District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek.

Three members serve on a county excise - equalization board.

Members of the Board of Equalization and the Excise Board are required by state law to be appointed by three separate entities: The Oklahoma Tax Commission (represented by the applicable state senator), county commissioners and the district judge, or judges. They are also required to reside in separate county commissioners’ districts. Wittrock represents District 1.

State Senator Darcy Jech named Wittrock to be reappointed to the board.

Commissioners voted to terminate the county’s status with Prudential Retirement- Investments as the county no longer has anyone on its plan. The action states that all participants are 100% vested in all money sources.

Commissioners approved the county jail’s commissary inmate trust financial report, showing an ending balance of $40,151.22. The balance is derived from a beginning balance of $30,887.42 plus 9,263.80 in payments from commissary operations.

Commissioners approved soliciting bids for chip and seal work on designated county roads and on oil materials for chip-seal projects in all districts.

An application for a $600 burial fee, accompanied by an affidavit of financial need, for James Doug Shafer of Hennessey received unanimous approval.

Bison Water Midstream received unanimous approval for a public service access drive on N 2830 Road approximately one-fourth mile north of E830 Road (west side) with a 16-inch culvert.

County road right-ofway permits for pipeline crossings received approval as follow:

• K&J Construction – 12inch lay flat line located one mile south and four miles west of Dover, and 12-inch flat line and three-inch poly line located two miles south and six miles east of Hennessey, all in District 2.

• Logan County Rural Water District – line located three miles south and 10 miles east of Hennessey, District 2.