26-02-2025
Commissioners approve to equip EMO with rescue boats
Pittsburg County Commissioners agreed to equip emergency management with additional boats.
Leonard Baughman, director of Emergency Management, said the county has two, and the purchases will contribute to additional preparedness.
Commissioners approved the purchase of two Swift Water Rescue inflatable boats and one boat trailer, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the State-Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Emergency Response Capability and Impacts Grant Program.
'It's actually a double-decker trailer to carry two rescue boats,' said Baughman. The price for the trailer is $19,988, and $8,736.70 for both boats that includes shipping.
Baughman said boats will be shipped from California and will be already designed with logos.
The commissioners also agreed to advertise for bids for additional swift water rescue equipment and one 15.5-foot rescue boat to be funded with ARPA-SLFRF as well. Those bids will be opened next month.
'That boat, the 15.5, is for ice rescues. I know we don't have many of them here, but that would keep us prepared for it,' Baughman said.
Commission Vice Chairman/District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman said, 'We could use it for anything.'
Baughman said, 'Correct.'
In other business, commissioners:
— Discussed a three-year plan for road and bridge work with Tommy Garrett, project manager with Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and Jimmy Westbrook, McCurtain County Commissioner.
Westbrook said three concerns are a bridge over Chun Creek on S. Brewer Road north of Kiowa and south of Savanna, a bridge over an unnamed creek on Burns Loop Road south of Blanco, and the surface and structure of Cabiness Road north of U.S. Highway 270 west of McAlester.
— Approved a revision to the 2025 Policies and Procedures Handbook for all county employees.
'I read the whole thing over the weekend,' said Chairman/District 1 Commissioner Charlie Rogers. 'There's a change in the holidays.'
Sandra Crenshaw, Commissioners First Deputy, said the emergency action plan is taken out due to a variety of different plans required at different locations.
Rogers said employees will have the benefit of a full day of paid time off for the holidays.
The Pittsburg County Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Monday (unless scheduled around a federal holiday) at the Pittsburg County Courthouse inside the County Commissioners Conference Room, Room 100B, at 115 E. Carl Albert Parkway.
Meetings are open to the public and people may address the commissioners regarding an item on the agenda. Residents must provide their name and address and to speak no more than three minutes.
Comments by the public on items not on the agenda cannot be acknowledged or discussed, but can be placed on an upcoming agenda for discussion and possible action.
To see the agenda, visit
