Kingfisher County commissioners retained Total Assessment Solutions Corp (TASC) Monday to assess oil and gas properties and services in the county.

The contract, at an annual cost of $55,000, covers the period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

Commissioners had tabled action on the contract at an earlier meeting.

The action came after commissioners met with County Assessor Carolyn Mulherin and TASC officer Jerry Wisdom prior to their regular weekly meeting.

District 2 Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek, who voted to table action on the contract at the previous meeting, seconded the motion of District 1 Commissioner Jeff Moss to approve the TASC contract.

Commission Chairman Heath Dobrovolny joined them in voting in favor of hiring TASC.

Dobrovolny noted that only two state companies provide oilfield property assessment services.

Although discontent with the TASC service leading to tabling the contract item earlier was not discussed before the vote was taken, it apparently dealt with protests and lower settlements for DCP oil company ad valorem tax appraisals that were settled in district court last year.

The litigation covered a five-year time frame beginning in 2015.

The company’s original valuation of $621 million was settled for $490.25 million.

The protests and litigation delayed distribution of $2,755,084 in tax payments to county entities, primarily schools, which receive some 83 % of county ad valorem tax.

Approval of the TASC contract will allow property assessments to begin on oilfield property in the county for the 2021 tax year.

Commissioners approved a change-order for the county chip-and-seal contract, adding four miles in District 1. The change-order adds four miles on EW 730 Road from NS 2910 to NS 2950 Road.

Oil and chip work began last week in District 1 and will progress through all three districts.

The work involves 5/8-inch rock and sealant.

Commissioners also approved the annual continuation of the County Health Department’s contracts for several services, including janitorial work in the Courthouse Annex; a shredding service agreement (RK Black), Pitney Bowes (postage meter lease), Language Line (interpreter line services); Standley (copier service); FirstNet/AT&T (three mobile phones), and Trail Creek Wellness Center (medical consultations).

They approved state reimbursement forms for the election board and district attorney offices. The state reimburses telephone and travel expense for those two offices.

A resolution approving disposal of used equipment sold by Districts 2 and 3 at the Circuit Engineering District 8 auction received approval.

Dobrovolny and Shimanek expressed satisfaction with prices received at the auction. Dobrovolny noted that a 2015 mower sold from his district went to Manitoba, Canada.

A resolution to seek bids for courthouse custodial work received approval as did permits for two three-inch water lines, one in District 1 and one in District 3, as follow:

• Ovintiv - line two miles north of Okarche, District 3.

• Recoil Oilfield Services - line starting in S2 of SM 17-17-5 and ending in SW SW17-17-5.

Under new business commissioners reported a CED8 board meeting would be held Wednesday at Alva (Shimanek is the county’s representative on the board). A commissioners’ training session will be held Tuesday at CED8 headquarters and Dobrovolny will represent the county at the Wheatheart Nutrition Center board meeting at Blackwell on Thursday.

Present for the meeting in addition to commissioners were County Clerk Jeannie Boevers as minute clerk, County Engineer Nik Smith and Sheriff Dennis Banther.