The Lincoln County Courthouse remains opens to the public but the court side is shut down after a judge and Court Clerk employee reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Lincoln County Emergency Management released a statement last Saturday from Court Clerk Cindy Kirby that reads, “Due to positive COVID tests results by a judge and Court Clerk employee and on recommendations from the Lincoln County Health Department the Lincoln County Court Clerk’s Office and all judge offices are closed until July. 28.
“Filings and payments may be placed in the drop box in front of the courthouse and payments may be done online at odcr.com. Any inquiries may be emailed to cindy.kirby@oscn.net We are still working remotely to serve the public.”
Lincoln County commissioners agreed Monday to keep the same policy they put in place two weeks ago regarding access to the courthouse amid increasing cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln County and across the state.
As of Monday this week, the number of persons testing positive in Lincoln County for the virus had increased from 35 to 59 in the last two weeks.
During their meeting July 6, they agreed to restrict entrance to the courthouse to the front door and the east door.
Temperature checks are required at the entrances.
Elected officials will set the rules for their offices. County Clerk Alicia Wagnon said her employees must wear a mask when going to the counter to help someone, but can take it off at their desks.
Commissioners agreed that cleaning protocols should be stepped up and will ask the Chandler Fire Department to come in and spray with some type of acid they use.
In other action, the commissioners agreed to authorize Highway Personnel to be paid from the Use Tax fund pursuant to a resolution adopted earlier.
“The resolution called for using the Use Tax money to pay Highway Personnel for two months,” Wagnon said.
“We’ve done one month.”
Commissioners decided to have each official resubmit his or her Estimate of Needs for the General Fund budget in Fiscal Year 2020-2021. It’s to include a $50 across the board pay raise Commission Chairman Lee Doolen explained and that will be considered at the next meeting.
No action was taken on an agenda item about proper distribution of CIRB funding to County barns. After some discussion, Doolen said the issue would be placed on the Aug. 3 agenda.
Following an executive session, no action was taken on continued employment for Virgil Wilson and Jackie Roberson as janitors of the courthouse.
Commissioners, after a lengthy discussion, approved a $31,174 quote to Apprentice for IT infrastructure in the County Clerk’s Office and decided to pay for it with Use Tax funds. Doolen said the cost is eligible for reimbursement through the CARES Act and paper work will be submitted for that.
County Clerk Alicia Wagnon said her computer locked up for 15 minutes just prior to Monday’s commission meeting.
The commission also agreed to an amendment to the construction of the south wall at the fairgrounds and the contractor will bear the cost, not the county.
In other business:
Commissioners approved the annual financial statement for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
They approved the resale property fund financial statement for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
They agreed to get numbers for remodeling, funding and use of a bank building recently purchased by Lincoln County and bring those to another meeting.
Commissioners approved an agreement with the Lincoln County Industrial Development Authority.
The commissioners approved interlocal jail agreements with the city of Luther and with the Sac & Fox Tribal Nation.
They approved a juvenile detention services agreement with Oklahoma Juvenile Justice Services for $40 a day.