The Lincoln County Commissioners approved a Use Tax Resolution for the Emergency Managment building at their regular meeting on Aug. 3.
Emergency Management Director Charlotte Brown gave a breakdown of the work done so far and what the funds would be used for. The resolution calls for $81,000, though there is $61,000 more needed for the ceiling and flooring, and $20,000 for furnishing equipment, according to County Clerk Alica Wagnon. Brown said the funds would be used to cover the contractors for building walls, knocking down walls, HVAC, electric, floors and more. She added that the furnishing is for shelving, radio racks, equipment needed in the bay and hopefully a small kitchenette where EM workers could cook meals in the break room. She said in their current offices, all they have is a fridge and sink.
The Commissioners passed the resolution, but asked for a list of items EM intended to purchase for furnishing.
Brown also gave an update, saying they are spending as much time as they can working on getting the new building ready. She said they’ve also gotten a few offers from EM in other counties to do memorandums of understanding.
“To pretty much share a list of assets each county has so that we’ve got a general understanding between the directors and deputy directors of what we can utilize with each other without relying on the State,” she said.
Currently, one has come through from Creek County, and Brown said Payne and Pottawatomie counties are interested in MOUs as well.
The Commissioners also approved $3,200 inARPAinterest funds for a vertical lift in the jail. Sheriff Kevin Garrett said the current lift is in bad shape. The lift was used to help get food carts from the bottom level up and the medical cart down.
“They haven’t been able to get it downstairs. They have to lift it whenever we’re wanting to bring inmates up one by one. That’s time-consuming when they can go to the pod, dispense the medication,” Garrett said.
They also approved a transfer of funds so the Sheriff’s Office could purchase a transport van and a Resolution for General Fund reimbursements from the Sheriff’s Office. They took no action on approving the Jail Renovation insurance surety status inquiry, instead waiting until the next meeting.
Other items passed include a copier agreement with the OSU Extension Office, the Lincoln County Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Statement, a Declaration of Surplus for the County Clerk and Commissioners, a Resolution for Disposing of Equipment for the County Clerk, Election Board reimbursement, Blanket Purchase Orders and claims.
The Commissioners took no action on the SEFAreport for FiscalYear 2025-2026 as they didn’t have it.