District 1 Commissioner Bruce Tabor and District 2 Commissioner Steve Carter approved plans for bridges at Payne Hollow, at the southeast end of Jackson Mountain northwest of Marble City, and at Garrison Creek, south of the stop light in Roland on Roland Road. The Payne Hollow Bridge is in Carter's district and the Garrison Creek bridge is in Tabor's district. The plans were designed and presented by Kelly Engineering of Tahlequah.
District 3 Commissioner Cleon Harrell did not attend the meeting due to illness.
Tabor said the commissioners will seek more money for bridge repair and replacement because about $880,000 in bridge money is still unused. He explained that the commission area, which includes eight counties, has that money remaining in a bridge money pool.
"We have until the end of May to spend that money or it will revert to the state," Tabor said.
Tabor said the commissioners will push plans, which are already underway for bridges.
"We will try to get one or two more bridge projects approved," Tabor said. "These will be projects already started because there is so much paperwork involved."
He said that, for new bridges to be built, the county must complete environmental and historical studies, among others, before the projects are approved.
The commissioners also approved a special meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday to approve the county payroll. Tabor said that the county road employee payroll account was $2,513 short, but that money would be transferred from another road account on Wednesday. He explained county road funds are dedicated to road projects only, and are not part of the county's current budget crisis.
The commissioners also approved the appointment of Alvin Loomis to the Lee Creek Fire Department Board of Directors.
Don Butcher, director of the Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee Nutrition Program, reported that the Town of Roland has purchased a new van for the nutrition center and senior citizens program.
