Lincoln County commissioners this week approved engineering services for a jail expansion with BKL Engineers.
Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty explained, “We’re trying to gain some square footage in the jail.”
During a meeting in August, Dougherty said the plan the courthouse jail renovation committee had come up with would not ask the public for any kind of tax increase.
He has said it involves moving around other county-related agencies.
The commissioners also agreed to approve an application to Community Wildfire Protection Plan for up to $250,000.
Emergency Management Director Brandon Morgan advised the commissioners, “This is not for fire trucks or gear. One possibility would be for dozers, graders, and tractor trailers. The funds could also be used to pay a contractor.”
Following an executive session that lasted nearly two hours, commissioners voted to give Lila Wilson a $100 raise, Virgil Wilson a $300 raise as the budget allowed, but only $100 of that right now. They also voted to raise the salaries of Charlotte Brown, Cody McDonnell and Brandon Morgan by $200 but only $100 of that now.
They took no action on applicant requirements and salary for a new safety director.
In other business, commissioners: Approved payment of a sheriff’s vehicle claim from the ACCO deductible fund. The sheriff advised commissioners one of the vehicles was struck by a suspect involved in a pursuit that one of his deputies was assisting to apprehend.
Approved allowing application to State Emergency Management and Homeland Security for all upcoming grants that are offered.
Approved a Cushing Estates Plat map.
Approved two bids for three bridge projects.
Took no action on the following agenda items: Expenditure documentation for administrative expenses to Floyd and Driver, LLC; reviewing updated ARPA projects request list; moving some ARPA requests to the OMMA fund for consideration; renewal of legal services agreement between the commissioners and Floyd and Driver LLC for services dealing with ARPA fund expenditures and reporting; an agreement with Nextiva for courthouse phone service.
Approved a County Improvement Roads and Bridges project agreement A collision in the parking lot on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County proved fatal for one man and injured a teenaged driver, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
State Trooper Seijo identified the man who died as Joshua Hykeith Graves, 30, of Tulsa. He was transported and pronounced at Stroud Regional Medical Center.
The fatality collision occurred in the early morning hours on Sunday of Labor Day weekend at mile marker 166 in the Phillips 66 parking lot in Chandler, the trooper said.
He reported the collision occurred about 3:34 a.m.
The trooper said Graves was the passenger in a 2012 Chevy Malibu driven by a 17-year-old teenager of Claremore.
She suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene, Seijo reported.
He said Graves was pinned in the vehicle.
The other vehicle involved was a 2022 Peterbuilt driven by Loveprit Singh, 29, of New York, NY who was not injured, the trooper stated.
How the collision occurred is still under investigation.
The trooper said condition of the driver of the Chevy Malibu at the time of the fatal collision is still under investigation. Singh’s condition at the time of the collision was apparently normal, Seijo said.
Cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Seat belts were equipped and their use is still being investigated, the trooper reported.
Seijo, of the Turner Turnpike Detachment of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, was assisted by Lt. Perkins, Trooper Conway, Trooper Demming, Trooper Krupczyk , Chandler EMS and Chandler Fire Department.