Sequoyah County Commissioners set up a three-person committee Monday to interview applicants then recommend a candidate as Sequoyah County's emergency management director.

The committee will be assisted by a representative from the State Emergency Management office, Steve Pallatino. Committee members are Ronnie Webb of Roland, Chuck Wyckoff of Sallisaw and Yvonne Nance of the Central area.

District 2 Commissioner Steve Carter approved the committee, but stated, "I still believe it is the county commissioners' responsibility (to hire a county emergency management director)."

District 1 Commissioner Bruce Tabor replied, "The committee will review the applications and make a recommendation to the county commissioners."

Tabor said after the meeting, "We really need a fulltime director, but we can't afford it."

The part-time post pays about $1,025 a month.

Marion Fair resigned from the position in February.

Other Business

Danny Kokojan asked if the commissioners would approve an application for a U.S. Department of Commerce grant to make improvements to Rural Water District No. 4. The water district is south of Sallisaw in the Brent area.

Kokojan said the application will be for next year because this year's application period has closed. He explained after the meeting that the grant, if awarded to the water district, will be used to improve the water lines in the water district along U.S. Highway 59. The highway will be undergoing widening into four lanes, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) will pay for new lines and their installation. However, if the water district is able to pay for larger lines, from four to six inches, ODOT will install the lines for no extra cost.

A call for bids on surplus equipment in District 2 was approved. The equipment includes a 1997 GMC Jimmy; a 1976 Chevrolet half-ton pickup truck; a 1980 Dodge truck; an army truck; a 1990 dump truck; an Alamo boom ax; two trailer beds, with no axles; a Drott 4-in-1 clam bucket; a Ford truck bed; an Allis Chambers gas engine with pump; and a home-made flat bed trailer with no wheels.

The equipment can be seen at the District 2 shop at 100 Lee St. in Vian between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The commissioners also approved salvage of three pieces of equipment damaged by lightning, including a fax machine, copy machine and two telephones.

The commissioners also approved the employment of Tammy White as a part-time van driver for the Sallisaw Nutrition Site.