Lincoln County commissioners this week authorized the bid process for the jail expansion by Flintco and also held off taking any action on a resolution regarding wind turbines.
The motion on the bid process for the jail expansion stipulated that the bids will be opened during a public meeting at the Lincoln County courthouse.
The project is estimated to cost around $4.1 million and will be funded with ARPA money.
Commissioners and some Lincoln County residents discussed at length a proposed resolution on the wind turbines submitted by Thomas Holmes. Holmes noted he had been a resident in Lincoln County for 24 years and his family had been here since statehood.
District 3 Lincoln County Commissioner Lee Doolen, chairman of the commissioners, noted that the District Attorney’s Office and had gone over the resolution submitted by Holmes, saying, “Made it more appropriate for this board.”
Holmes said, “I think this is something the people will appreciate,” referring to the resolution he had submitted for commissioners’ consideration.
He called it “informational,” pointing to the fact that state law doesn’t currently require any minimum distance requirements between the wind turbines and the residences. He also claimed the turbines being proposed in Lincoln County are “taller than any building in Oklahoma City except for the Devon Tower.”
District 2 Commissioner Marlon Miller said, “I feel like it’s an attack on one industry. Where do we draw the line? I don’t know if we should be in the business of passing these resolutions,” he added.
District 1 Commissioner Will Fine commented, “I don’t want to tell people what they can and can’t do with their land, but I think they should be informed.”
Doolen emphasized, “It’s not our job to tell people what to do with their property. I stand on personal property rights. We don’t have a magic bullet,” he continued.
It was agreed to hold off taking any official action on any resolution on the turbines and having it on the agenda for the next commissioners meeting.
Commissioners also approved payment of a quote for a damaged Sheriff’s unit through the county deductible fund.
They approved an agreement between the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the city of Chandler and District 2 for the partial removal of Allison Road in Chandler.
In other business, commissioners: Reviewed an updated Disaster Recovery Plan for the Court Clerk and Lincoln County Clerk offices.
Approved the Lincoln County annual financial statement for the Fiscal Year that ended June 30, 2024.
Adopted resolutions for Declaration of Surplus in District 1 and for disposing of equipment for District 1.
Adopted a resolution for establishing an ac-See