The Norman Transcript

Local news

March 19, 2013

Commissioners donate senior center to town of Lexington

NORMAN — Cleveland County Commissioners voted Monday to gift the Lexington Senior Citizen Center to the town of Lexington. County Commissioner Rusty Sullivan, the District 3 county crew and county maintenance worked with citizen volunteers last year to renovate the county owned building after it was damaged by accidental flooding.

Now, Lexington can take pride of ownership.

“It’s been a real positive thing,” said Lexington City Manager Charles McCown. “It’s a very noble gift from the Board of County Commissioners.”

The county will also be able to save money by allowing Lexington to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the building. Following the flooding incident in December 2011, the community rallied to help rehab the building.

Lexington resident Ken Slate spearheaded volunteer community involvement on the clean up and remodel. Slate will also coordinate a committee to manage the events for senior citizens in Lexington.

The county made full use of resources during the renovation.

“We have a team of men that have helped out on the remodel,” said McCown. “They were inmates from the correction center.”

On Friday, Sullivan will officially turn over the keys to Lexington.

McCown said Lexington seniors are very excited.

“That’s all they want to talk about,” he said.

In other county business, County Commission chair Rod Cleveland said he received word recently that Oklahoma City will work in cooperation with the county on a $1 million road project for SE 149th Street from Post Oak to Choctaw. Even though a portion of the roadway enters Norman city limits, Cleveland said Oklahoma City officials said they will pay for the asphalt because of cooperation from Norman in the past.

“That’s much-needed road work for northeast Cleveland County,” he said. “That’s nice news we got last week.”

In Monday’s meeting, commissioners also awarded a bid for social marketing to build a web site for the Cleveland County Health Department to Smirk New Media for the low bid of $6,000. Also bidding were McMahon Marketing at $20,000 and Trifecta Communications at $8,000.

Undersheriff Rhett Burnett reported that there are currently 406 prisoners in the F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center. Twenty-five percent of those —107 prisoners — are Department of Corrections inmates with 95 having received judgment and sentencing, meaning they are ready for transport as soon as DOC has space for them.

Commissioners also approved blanket purchase orders for the following:

· District 2 Warehouse — Noble Farm and Building $6,000, Palace Auto Supply $2,500, Weldon Parts, Inc. $2,000

· District 3 Warehouse — Del Nero Communications $450, T&W Tire $2,500

· Cleveland County Health Department — Monia Franklin $30, Katherine Morgan $50

· Cleveland County Clerk — Norman Stamp & Seal $1,500, The Frame Shop $2,500

· Sheriff’s Office — Hagar Restaurant Service $1,000, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety $1,050, US Fleet Tracking $1,000, Palace Auto Supply $1,000, Spector Wire & Cable, Inc. $500

Commissioners also approved the following purchase orders:

General Fund $71,964 and $1,864; Highway Fund $27,699, Health Fund $4,026, Sheriff Service Fee Fund $21,163; Sheriff Commissary Fund $3,620; Sheriff Courthouse Security Service Fee $133, Sheriff Revolving Fund $1,679; Treasurer Certification Fee $373; Fair Board $1,257.

Joy Hampton

366-3539

jhampton@normantranscript.com

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