Norman — Cleveland County Commissioners took no action Monday on a permit for a utility line installation for the Cleveland County Rural Water District 1, rural potable water system.
After the meeting, Commissioner Rusty Sullivan said he knows there are many residents in his district who need adequate water but he needed a little more information before approving the permit.
“We desperately need a water system and I want to go forward,” Sullivan said.
The governor’s appointment of Natalie Shirley to the Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board was approved by a vote of 2-1 with Commissioner Rod Cleveland voting no. Shirley is the Oklahoma secretary of commerce.
The board includes Cleveland, McClain and Logan counties and has been run locally for years.
“I don’t see why we need a state secretary sitting on a local board,” Cleveland said after the meeting.
In other agenda items, the cities of Moore and Lexington will now pay $45 per day per prisoner for Cleveland County to house prisoners.
The county will relinquish access rights to county property at 523 E. Robinson St. so the City of Norman can continue the sidewalk, pedestrian ramps and drainage improvements.
The work will be paid for by the city.
Commissioners also extended the lease agreement with the City of Norman for the dropoff recycling center at the west entrance of the county fairgrounds.
Meeting as the Cleveland County Home Loan Authority, the board agreed to lease the ground floor of the county building at 116 S. Peters Ave. to the OSBI at $2.50 per square foot, if the OSBI will pay the utilities.
The Authority tabled action on an offer, $26,325 from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to purchase a part of the property owned by the county on the curve of Highway 77 and Slaughterville Road.
Sullivan said Highway 77 from Noble to Lexington will be widened and it is necessary to purchase the front of the property. He said the south substation of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office is on the property with a fence and an electric gate that will have to be moved. Sullivan said he wanted to check and make sure it wouldn’t cost the county more than the offer to replace the fence and gate before he approved the sale.
Meeting as the public facilities authority, the board heard an update on the Couch Juvenile Center. The roof has been completed and the windows are ready to be replaced.
In other business, the commissioners:
· Entered into an agreement with Western Farmer Cooperative for an easement at Indian Hills Road and 24th Avenue NW.
· Renewed a computer maintenance agreement between the assessor and Environmental Systems Research Institute for $11,100 per year.
· Approved an invoice of $139.50 to Collins, Zorn & Wagner P.C. for a worker’s compensation case for Sherry Beaver.
· Approved an interlocal agreement between the county commissioners and the City of Noble.
· Approved the February monthly report for Sheriff Joe Lester for $3,898.25, and,
· Disposed of equipment and office supplies that were traded or sold.
Peggy Laizure 366-3545 plaizure@normantranscript.com
