A Lincoln County resident during Monday’s commissioners meeting requested that they ban wind turbines from being constructed in flood plains.
Ms. Robbie McCommas was listed on Monday’s agenda to address the Board of Commissioners and that was the issue she brought to them.
District 3 Commissioner Lee Doolen, who is also chairman of the commission, advised Mc-Commas, “We can’t do that on this agenda but we can discuss it.” He further indicated commissioners at a future meeting could look at doing a resolution.
Doolen indicated the commissioners weren’t opposed to doing that, but noted, “We just want to make sure we have the authority and sure we are doing it right.”
He said commissioners would place that issue on their May 20 agenda.
Charlotte Brown, Emergency Management Director, said any application to build any infrastructure in a flood plain must come through her office.
Following the meeting, she elaborated, “That an individual or any type of commercial business wanting to build any infrastructure within Lincoln County, not in a city or municipality, must come through my office of Emergency Management to obtain a flood plain permit.”
Brown said when some comes to her office to inquire about that information, she looks through the flood plain mapping zones, and she noted Lincoln County has several of these zones that are provided by FEMA, “to make sure they aren’t about to build in a flood plain.”
She emphasized that no one associated with building of the proposed wind turbines in Lincoln County have come to her office for any permits nor reached out to her for anything.
“There are several different flood plains in Lincoln County and I haven’t seen the exact location of any of these wind turbines,” Brown said, so she doesn’t if any of them are in a flood plain or not.
Brown said she is going to contact the Oklahoma Water Resources Board “and get their take on the woman’s comments at Monday’s meeting. A company doesn’t know if it’s in a flood plain or not until they come to my office,” she added.
Brown further stated she will report to the county commissioners during their May 20 meeting on what she finds out from OWRB.
In her report to the board, Brown also advised commissioners she checked with the railroad company Monday morning and the intersection closed by the recent train derailment remains closed, but progress is being made with the laying of new rails.
Commissioners also took no action on approving quotes for the remodel of OSU Extension/DA’s office remodel.
They authorized Wilson, Dotson and Associates to prepare Temporary Appropriations for Lincoln County.
In other business, commissioners: Heard a presentation by Paul Simpson on EVACU ambulance insurance.
Approved a quit claim deed for county property located at Block 36, Lot 22 in Agra.
Approved a bridge on the county’s six-year CIRB Allocation Plan Update.
Took no action to approve OMMA funds for purchase of a grapple and a dump trailer.
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Turn Key Health for counseling services at the jail.
Took no action on setting up REAP grant account for Sparks Fire Department or approving Estimate of Needs for Sparks Fire REAP account.
Took no action on appointing a Fair Board member from District 3.
Approved OCCEDB 2025 Solid Waste applications for Districts 1, 2 and 3.
Adopted a resolution for disposing of equipment in District 2.
Adopted a resolution for encumbrance of Use Tax Fund for John Deere Tractor repair for District 2.
Took no action on adopting a resolution establishing accounts for a bridge in District 2 and two bridges in District 3.
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Lincoln County.
Granted approval to COTC to cross county owned property.
Approved a Lincoln County Job Fair for Oct. 18, 2024.
Approved a quote from Brio Water for water cooler systems.
Authorized Emergency Management to to apply for grants to Plains, Trans Canada and OneOk.
Approved a renewal OMMA certificate of Compliance for Lun Chen Green, LLC.
Approved an Office of Homeland Security Communications Unit application.
Adopted a resolution appointing, requesting, receiving, inventory officer for Davenport Nutrition Site and Emergency Management.
Approved a Declaration of Surplus for Emergency Management.
Voted to approve the Purchase Card Payment Approval form.