Latest news with #CountyCommissioners
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
County makes disaster declaration for recent storrms
Muskogee County Commissioners made a disaster declaration at a special board meeting Friday. The declaration is for the period April 19-May 19, including the storm that went through Fort Gibson and did damage to buildings, trees and houses. 'Two things — number one it opens us up to provide assistance at the county level in ways we normally couldn't,' said District 1 Commissioner Ken Doke, board chair. 'So we can go on private property and spend money without a proper bid. 'Number two — it's sort of an acknowledgment and sort of starts the process to let them know we had an emergency here, we want to be included in the state's emergency declaration and we'll be providing documentation on what our estimated damages are which will become part of the cumulative total they will use to file at the federal level.' Doke and District 3 Commissioner Kenny Payne said this declaration will not provide financial assistance to residents and businesses. However, it will allow county workers to help with the cleanup process. 'It will allow us to move trees, what we've kind of already been doing anyway,' Doke said. 'The main thing is it's going to start the process so maybe they can get assistance through FEMA.' A county must declare a disaster before the state declares a disaster. The state then sends its findings to Washington where the president has to declare a disaster area before residents can apply for FEMA aid. 'If the feds declare what's called 'individual assistance,' then yes individuals could eventually get assistance from the federal government,' Doke said. 'Businesses in particular get SBAs (Small Business Administration loans) and some individuals, if they make too much money to qualify, they could get SBA loans.' The board also accepted compliant bids for the Okay Road Project to repair the road that runs from Fort Gibson to Okay. Commissioners voted to table awarding the contract to one of the bidders until next Friday, allowing the county to examine and evaluate the bids.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Muskogee Board of County Commissioners regular meeting — agenda
WHAT: Muskogee Board of County Commissioners regular meeting. WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Monday. WHERE: Muskogee County Services Building, 400 W. Broadway, Suite 010. AGENDA Consider: — Purchase orders, monthly reports, minutes of the May 27, 2025 regular meeting and minutes of the May 30, 2025 special meeting. — Julianne Montgomery as the Interim Regional Administrative Director for the Muskogee County Health Department. — OSU Extension Estimate of Needs FY 25/26. — Contract with Comanche County Juvenile Detention Center. — Lease purchase agreement renewal #229686 from Security National Bank, for a 2023 Mack Truck #1937 for District 1. — Contract between Eastern Oklahoma Youth Services & Muskogee County for the Pittsburg County Regional Juvenile Detention Center. — ODOT /SA&I Form 100 for the County Road and Machinery and Equipment Revolving Fund Purchase Contract for District 2. — Purchase of a Side by Side for Buckhorn Volunteer Fire Department. — Vendor contract for STS Refill Technology for the Muskogee County Assessor. — Pursuant to 25 OS 307(()11, discussion and possible action to convene in executive session to confer on matters pertaining to economic development projects related to Port Muskogee and take appropriate action in open session. — Pursuant to 25 OS 307{8){4), discussion and possible action to convene in executive session to receive confidential communication between the public body and its attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim or action if the public body, with the advice of its attorney, determines that public disclosure will seriously impair the ability of the public body to process the claim or conduct a pending investigation, litigation, or proceeding in the public interest. Keefeton Volunteer Fire Department v. Board of County Commissioners, case no CV-23-185 and case no 12306. — Pursuant to 25 OS 307{8){4), discussion and possible action to convene in executive session to receive confidential communication between the public body and its attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim or action if the public body, with the advice of its attorney, determines that public disclosure will seriously impair the ability of the public body to process the claim or conduct a pending investigation, litigation, or proceeding in the public interest. USAC Leasing v. Muskogee County Assessor case no CV-24-330 2023 and EQ-24-45 2024 — Vote to adjourn Executive Session and return to Regular Meeting and possible votes regarding the above-referenced case.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
County awarded $15 million to help fund new jail
JEFFERSON — After years of chasing grants, Ashtabula County finally came up a winner Friday, as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a $15 million grant for the construction of a new jail. 'The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners and Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi are proud to announce the successful acquisition of $15 million in state funding toward the construction of a new county jail,' a press release from the commissioners said. The grant money will be matched by $15 million the commissioners have saved towards the project, the commissioners said at previous meetings. Niemi, in consultation with the commissioners, decided a new jail just north of the present one on county property would be the most financially-expedient plan. The funding is through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program, which was launched by DeWine in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2021 to help local communities fund improvements at functionally obsolete and structurally failing jails, according to a press release from DeWine's office. 'This funding will not only support safer environments for those living and working in our local jails, but it will also help prepare inmates for release by creating improved spaces for workforce development, educational opportunities, and other programming,' DeWine said in the release. The commissioners have been working with Niemi to find the best solution to the current county jail, which is too small, and has been deteriorating. 'I can't tell you what a relief this is, for all the hard work we put into it,' Niemi said. He said the current jail not only has functional problems, but is too small to allow programming that would hopefully reduce recidivism. 'We don't have the space to bring the counselors in,' Niemi said. He said the increased space will allow inmates to have a fuller evaluation and hopefully find their way to the right path. 'This is a transformational moment for Ashtabula County,' Commissioner JP Ducro said in the commissioners' press release. 'This funding allows us to move forward. It is a testament to the persistence of county leaders, the support of our sheriff, and the responsible planning that made a local match possible. I am especially pleased that we can now build a facility that should help reduce recidivism and be much more operationally efficient for decades to come.' The current jail was constructed in 1978 and has long been outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of law enforcement, county leaders have said during the last year of discussions and debate. 'This is a major win. We're incredibly grateful to the state for awarding the full amount of our grant request,' Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said in the release. 'This funding allows us to move forward with the jail project; finally addressing a decades long issue in Ashtabula County.' 'Securing this funding is a major step forward for our county. This project isn't just about building a new facility — it's about making a smart investment in public safety, creating a safe environment for inmates and staff and serving the needs of our community,' Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said in the release. Niemi said in the release Friday was a historic day for the county. 'The new facility will give us the tools we need to run a secure, effective operation and provide the level of care and accountability the people of this county expect,' he said in the release. 'I thank the commissioners, our partners at the state level, and the people of Ashtabula County for supporting this long-overdue step forward.' The new jail will also be helpful for law enforcement agencies and other county courts and departments. 'That is great news,' Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said. 'That is sure to be good for all the [police] departments including ours.' He said there have been crowding issues at the county jail for 10 years, which caused city jails to fill up for longer periods of time. The proposed new jail design would house 209 inmates and take approximately three years to build. Niemi said meetings to discuss the next steps toward construction will start very soon.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
County awarded $15 million to help fund new jail
JEFFERSON — After years of chasing grants, Ashtabula County finally came up a winner Friday, as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a $15 million grant for the construction of a new jail. 'The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners and Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi are proud to announce the successful acquisition of $15 million in state funding toward the construction of a new county jail,' a press release from the commissioners said. The grant money will be matched by $15 million the commissioners have saved towards the project, the commissioners said at previous meetings. Niemi, in consultation with the commissioners, decided a new jail just north of the present one on county property would be the most financially-expedient plan. The funding is through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program, which was launched by DeWine in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2021 to help local communities fund improvements at functionally obsolete and structurally failing jails, according to a press release from DeWine's office. 'This funding will not only support safer environments for those living and working in our local jails, but it will also help prepare inmates for release by creating improved spaces for workforce development, educational opportunities, and other programming,' DeWine said in the release. The commissioners have been working with Niemi to find the best solution to the current county jail, which is too small, and has been deteriorating. 'I can't tell you what a relief this is, for all the hard work we put into it,' Niemi said. He said the current jail not only has functional problems, but is too small to allow programming that would hopefully reduce recidivism. 'We don't have the space to bring the counselors in,' Niemi said. He said the increased space will allow inmates to have a fuller evaluation and hopefully find their way to the right path. 'This is a transformational moment for Ashtabula County,' Commissioner JP Ducro said in the commissioners' press release. 'This funding allows us to move forward. It is a testament to the persistence of county leaders, the support of our sheriff, and the responsible planning that made a local match possible. I am especially pleased that we can now build a facility that should help reduce recidivism and be much more operationally efficient for decades to come.' The current jail was constructed in 1978 and has long been outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of law enforcement, county leaders have said during the last year of discussions and debate. 'This is a major win. We're incredibly grateful to the state for awarding the full amount of our grant request,' Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said in the release. 'This funding allows us to move forward with the jail project; finally addressing a decades long issue in Ashtabula County.' 'Securing this funding is a major step forward for our county. This project isn't just about building a new facility — it's about making a smart investment in public safety, creating a safe environment for inmates and staff and serving the needs of our community,' Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said in the release. Niemi said in the release Friday was a historic day for the county. 'The new facility will give us the tools we need to run a secure, effective operation and provide the level of care and accountability the people of this county expect,' he said in the release. 'I thank the commissioners, our partners at the state level, and the people of Ashtabula County for supporting this long-overdue step forward.' The new jail will also be helpful for law enforcement agencies and other county courts and departments. 'That is great news,' Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said. 'That is sure to be good for all the [police] departments including ours.' He said there have been crowding issues at the county jail for 10 years, which caused city jails to fill up for longer periods of time. The proposed new jail design would house 209 inmates and take approximately three years to build. Niemi said meetings to discuss the next steps toward construction will start very soon.
