Drake Smith with Newroads Telecom told the commissioners that Newroads could provide telephone service to the courthouse for about $3,800 less a year than AT&T. He explained the new telephone system would cost about $45,000 and would allow each department to forward telephone calls to other departments. The telephone system would also be serve as an intercom system so departments could communicate with one another. The present system does not have intercom capabilities or the ability to transfer calls.
He said the system would be installed in phases — the treasurer’s and county clerk’s offices first, followed by the election board and county commissioners, the assessor’s and Oklahoma Highway Patrol offices, the court clerk’s and district attorney’s offices, and the sheriff’s, emergency management, OSU and 9-1-1 offices.
Smith said each department would be billed separately, and the system is easily expandable.
He said the Newroads system would cost about $1,300 a month, as compared to the $1,800 a month the county is paying now.
District 1 Commissioner Bruce Tabor said that an expenditure of $45,000 would require the county to call for bids on a new telephone system, but Smith said that possibly by installing the system in phases the county would not have to call for bids. The law requires bids be called for on projects estimated above $25,000.
Tabor said, “We would need to think about it, and check with the district attorney and the state auditor’s office to see if it needs to be bid on. Maybe we can look at it for next year’s budget.”
Other Business
Chris Keathley, Sequoyah County Emergency Management director, said he has found no grants to help replace the leaking courthouse roof. However, grants are available to “harden” the courthouse as a storm shelter, he said. Since the courthouse serves as a storm shelter also, grants are available for a wind-resistant roof, for film to place over and safeguard the windows, and tornado proof the doors. The commissioners gave Keathley the go ahead to seek the grants.
Sheriff Ron Lockhart asked the commissioners to approve a credit card for transport officers, which they did. Lockhart explained he has one inmate in Georgia and one in Florida who need to be picked up and returned to Sequoyah County. Most times the transport officer pays for gas and other necessities out of his own pocket and then must wait to be reimbursed. The credit card will have a $5,000 limit, Lockhart said.
The commissioners approved a grant application by the sheriff’s office for an Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistant Grant, for vehicles and equipment. Lockhart was also approved to submit an application for a community-oriented policing grant. He explained that, if granted, the money would pay the salaries for three deputies for three years, with the understanding that the county would find funding to pay for the fourth year. The commissioners confirmed that they would not be required to pay for the fourth year before approving the grant application.
