Commissioners approve estimate of needs, request for appropriations

By Ken Childers

ONL Editor

The Okfuskee County Board of County Commissioners convened for its weekly meeting Monday morning and took a number of actions, including the approval of the latest cash fund estimate of needs and request for appropriations.

The estimate of needs includes appropriation requests which are to be reimbursed from state funds as well as those to be financed by county funds. The approved document totaled $360,514.34, broken down as follows:

Highway Cash – $221,442.36

County Bridge and Road Improvements – $18,168.68

Assessor’s Revolving Fund – $87.06

County Clerk Lien Fee – $734.09

County Clerk Preservation Fee – $2,090.71

Court Fund P/R – $7,028.78

Drug Court – $1,658.74

E-911 – $9,622.31

EM Enhance – $5,515.78

General Use Tax – $30,102.84

Jail – $0.59

Law Library – $262.76

Court Clerk Preservation – $269.75

Justice Authority – $49,784.08

Sheriff Commissary – $0.28

Sheriff’s Service Fee – $6,944.56

Treasurer’s Excess Resale – $0.12

Treasurer’s Mortgage Tax – $120.16

Treasurer’s Resale Property – $6,771.69

The agenda also included discussion and possible action on whether or not the county would pick up a portion of a health insurance bundle premium from Washington National Insurance for county employees. After discussion, the commissioners voted against paying any portion of the premium, citing budgetary constraints.

Other actions included the approval of official’s monthly reports and the county clerk’s financial report for August 2020. The board also approved claims for items purchased totaling $41,302.32 as well as the minutes of the Sept. 8 meeting.

A meeting of the Okfuskee County Justice Authority took place immediately after the commissioners’ meeting adjourned. Business included approval of the minutes from the Aug. 10 meeting and approval of the Treasurer’s sub-ledger, which showed a balance of $481,774.56. The Justice Authority is comprised of the county commissioners.

The commissioners typically meet each Monday at 9 a.m. on the first floor of the courthouse. All board meetings are open to the public, subject to the COVID-19 restrictions that are currently in place. A face mask or suitable face covering is required to gain entrance to the courthouse, which is limited to the north entrance only. All visitors are subject to a COVID-19 screening, which includes a temperature check.