Kingfisher County commissioners heard a request from Ann Taylor, Hennessey Library Board president, to resume the Hennessey Public Library’s share of a county sales tax at .3%.

Taylor, who was accompanied to the meeting by library staff members Lissette Sosa, Steven Mitchell and Jean Crosswhite, said the library originally received the .3% share of the tax, but had experienced a drop to .2%, creating a decrease of one-third in the library budget.

Commission Chairman Anthony Schwarz responded that the county was in the process of preparing budgets for the new fiscal year and would consider the request for the coming year.

Commissioners approved a county road rightof- way permit for Enlink Midstream to cross a county road six miles south and one-fourth mile east of Hennessey with a 4.5 inch steel pipeline on motion of District 2 Commissioner Mike Sparks. The action was carried over from the preceding week’s meeting when it had been tabled due to insufficient advance notice, also on Sparks’ motion. Commissioners tabled action on another matter at Monday’s weekly meeting, a request for a letter of support for a funding grant authorizing Resound Network broadband activity from Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD). Sparks sought tabling the matter to allow additional study. Commissioners approved a public access drive for Devon Energy, including a 20-inch by 120 foot pipe, located six miles west and three miles north of Okarche in District 3 and a transfer of funds from the county’s Protest Tax account of $26,531.81.

The fund is maintained to pay awards in successful protests of county ad valorem tax payments.

Under commissioners’ comments and announcements, Sparks reported he would attend the Circuit Engineering District 3 meeting Wednesday and Schwarz reported he had heard favorable reports from Okarche residents about increased patrolling by the county sheriff’s department. Sparks serves as the county’s representative on the CED#3 board of directors.

Besides all commissioners – Schwarz, District 3; Jeff Moss,District 1, vice-chairman and Sparks, District 2 – attending the meeting, also present in addition to the Hennessey Library delegation were County Clerk Emily Lee, offi cial minute clerk; County Engineer Nik Smith, Sheriff Aaron Pitts, County Emergency Management Director Ryan Deatherage and citizen visitor Kelly Buck.