Health department is growing
Representatives from the Sequoyah County Health Department approached the Sequoyah County Commissioners at their weekly meeting Tuesday to let them know they want to clean up the old offices inside the building that were previously used by the SAC Nutrition Center.
Commissioners favor plans for more space
Representatives from the Sequoyah County Health Department approached the Sequoyah County Commissioners at their weekly meeting Tuesday to let them know they want to clean up the old offices inside the building that were previously used by the SAC Nutrition Center.
Since the SAC Nutrition Center, which was renting the space, is now under the ownership of MC Nutrition of Muskogee, the office spaces inside the health department are no longer being used, according to Kelly Martin, the health department’s administration programs director.
“We just want to get the place cleaned up and painted, and since we’re growing, we could use the additional space,” Martin told the commissioners.
“We are growing, adding more staff all the time, which is good. And since the nutrition staff has moved out, we just want to get the place cleaned up and begin using it.”
Since the issue was discussed during the citizen’s presentation portion of the commissioners meeting, no action was required. However, comments from the commissioners were favorable toward the county health department’s plans.
Martin said she hopes the cleaning and painting can begin on the office space as early as next week.
In other business, commissioners approved a purchase contract in the amount of $411,000 for a 2022 New Etnyre chip spreader, which will be used by all three commissioners from Districts 1, 2 and 3. District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers said the purchase is being made possible by a state revolving fund with a onetime 3% interest rate provided for all counties in Oklahoma. Rogers said the chip spreader will be used to chip and seal roads, and the purchase is a “really good deal.”
Commissioners also hired Garrett Fargo as Sequoyah County Emergency Management director. Jonathan Teague will also be hired as a deputy for the department next week. Teague was not listed on Tuesday’s agenda to be hired, so official action will not be taken until next week.
Also approved was the appointment of Bob Warren, mayor of Gore, and Julie Haywood, Sequoyah County clerk, as requisitioning officers for the town of Gore, and Vice Mayor Robin Henry and Fire Chief Justin Ohl as receiving officers.
The commissioners appointed District 2 Commissioner Beau Burlison as chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 2023. They also appointed District 1 Commissioner Ray Watts as vice chairman for the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners also approved a proclamation declaring January as Stalking Awareness Month and Human Trafficking Awareness Month at the request of Cindy Smith, investigator for the Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s Office, which oversees the Crime Victim’s unit of the department.
