County approves $2 million invoice to Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Nation will be receiving an invoice for more than $2 million from Sequoyah County for the Garvin Branch bridge.

At Monday’s meeting, the county commissioners approved sending the invoice for $2,069,482.63, and executing the Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance Compliance form.

District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers noted that the bridge is a County Improvements for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) project.

“By utilizing the Cherokee Nation funds, that’s gonna free up some of the CIRB projects and some of the federal monies that they had available to help out with the bridges in Cherokee Nation territory,” Rogers told the commissioners.

Rogers explained that the Cherokee Nation payment merely passes through the county to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which has oversight of the project. The project funding is authorized by the Cherokee Nation’s Tribal Transportation Program and the Tribal Transportation Program Bridge Program.

“We appreciate the Cherokee Nation,” county commissioners chair Beau Burlison said on behalf of the commissioners.

Rogers further said construction on the bridge is “going very, very well. They’re done with the bridge on the north side of the railroad tracks.” Crews have moved on to other aspects of the project adjacent to the bridge. Rogers said the project is on schedule, but admitted Central Road (South 4670 Road) may not be open at the railroad tracks north of Central Public School by the start of the school year.

The commissioners also approved a request for the Freise Family Cemetery, a private cemetery.

Bids were also opened for a six-month road materials contract for the county’s three districts. Due to the number of bids received and the need for review, the commissioners delayed awarding the contract until next week’s meeting.

The commissioners tabled discussion on a resolution to amend the county’s personnel policy, as well as a correctional communications services agreement between the county sheriff’s office and City Tele-Coin Company. The commissioners chose to take no action on the county assessor’s request to let a bid for a new compact 4WD truck with a lease-purchase option.

In annual housekeeping matters and other end-of-the-fiscal-year, the commissioners approved:

• A county road machinery and equipment revolving fund lease renewal

• A memorandum of understanding by and between Sequoyah County Emergency Management and the Cherokee Nation

• The disposal of equipment by the county election board, a Merels computer that no longer accepts updates

• An insurance verification form for ODOT county road machinery and equipment revolving fund for all of the county districts

• An appointment of Walter A. Rau to the Eastern Oklahoma District Library System’s board of trustees through June 30, 2026

• A transfer of appropriations from treasurer M&O to treasurer personal service in the amount of $1,600.88

• A transfer of appropriations from commissioners travel to assessor travel in the amount of $200

• A transfer of appropriations from commissioners travel to court clerk travel in the amount of $300

• A transfer of appropriations from OSU Extension contractual services to OSU Extension M&O in the amount of $1,700 In the citizens presentation portion of the meeting, it was announced that a benefit dinner and auction for the family of Brushy Fire Chief Bobby Caughman will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Brushy School cafeteria. A meal of pulled pork sandwich or cheeseburger with chips, drink and dessert is $5. There will also be bounce houses for the children. Caughman, 66, passed Sunday.