Kingfisher County commissioners reorganized Tuesday at their first meeting of 2023 and kept everything the same.

On motion of District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek, District 3 Commissioner Heath Dobrovolny was re-elected chairman and District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss was renamed vice-chairman.

This is the third year the commission has retained the same officers.

When asked by Moss if he would continue to serve, Dobrovolny said if that was the wish of the other two commissioners, he would continue in the position.

The commission chairman has additional duties, some ceremonial and others required by law, such as serving on the county board of tax roll corrections.

Commissioners accepted the bid of Dollar Trucking of Hennessey to provide rock for next summer’s oil and chip work on county roads.

Dobrovolny said he had run the numbers on the three bids submitted, including the cost of transporting the rock and his assessment indicated that Dollar Trucking of Hennessey’s bid of $39.40 per ton for providing and delivering 5/8-inch rock and $39.05 per ton for 3/4-inch rock was lowest.

Dolese submitted a bid of $16 per ton for 5/8-inch rock and $15.65 per ton for 3/4-inch, not delivered.

Martin Marietta also bid on the rock at undelivered prices of $25 per ton for 5/8-inch and $27 per ton for 3/4-inch chips.

The rock will be delivered in May and June for use by companies contracted to do oil and chip work in all districts. Each commissioner district will provide storage for the rock to be used in that district.

Commissioners approved solicitation of bids for 2021 model year or newer excavators for Districts 1 and 2.

Sealed bids will be received at the county clerk’s office, where bid packets are available until 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, and will be opened at the Jan. 30 commission meeting.

Seven right-of-way permits for county road pipeline crossings received approval – six in District 3 and one in District 1.

The locations follow:

• Ovintiv Energy – 12inch temporary flat lines located four miles west and two miles south of Loyal, five miles east and three miles south of Omega, five miles west and three miles north of Okarche, five miles west and one mile south of Loyal, eight miles west and three miles north of Okarche, and a 16-inch line located one mile north of Okarche, all in District 3.

• K&J Construction – 12-inch and three-inch lines both located three miles north and seven miles east of Kingfisher, District 1.

Dobrovolny announced that informational health insurance meetings for county employees and spouses will be held at 9 a.m, noon and 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the county fairgrounds by staff members of the county’s health insurance provider, Oklahoma Public Employees Health and Wellness.

Commissioners toured the Kingfisher County Jail after the end of their regular meeting, a statutorily- required duty of commissioners at the first meeting of each year.

The meeting agenda showed eight COVID cases in the county as of Monday, all in Kingfisher, down three cases in Kingfisher and 11 cases for the entire county.

Also present for the meeting were County Engineer Nik Smith and County Clerk Jeannie Boevers as official minutes clerk.