Nov. 25--County commissioners approved an extra holiday for the 2009 county calendar.

District 2 County Commissioner Mike Helm said he had been asked to look at Friday Jan. 2 as a potential holiday. County employees will have Thursday off due to New Year's Day. Allowing for Friday off will give county employees a long weekend.

Commissioners debated whether allowing the extra day off would create problems with newly elected officials being sworn in on the first working day of the new year. In particular, current Rogers County Sheriff Jerry Prather will retire Dec. 31.

Commissioners said Undersherriff Tom Harrison would be in charge until incoming sheriff elect Scott Walton is sworn into office.

The motion to designate Jan. 2 as a holiday was unanimously approved. The Rogers County Courthouse will be closed on that date.

Fluctuating asphalt prices caused District 3 County Commissioner Kirt Thacker to seek approval to have individual projects bid as needed. District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier agreed it was a good idea. The motion passed unanimously.

"It will simplify our projects by getting a specific bid for a project," said Thacker. "I think we'll get more bang for the buck."

Thacker said any interested ashphalt company would be able to bid. The bids will still go through the county clerk's office. Previously, commissioners did blanket bids for three month time periods.

Incoming funds from State of Oklahoma FEMA for $21,772 were acknowledged and $19,995 of those funds put into District 1's one-cent account.

For bookkeeping purposes, $113,051 of FEMA funds put into District 2's one-cent account were moved because the reimbursement funds were for salaries not road work.

Checks from CMC Recycling for sheet iron for $48 and $52 due to District 3 were acknowledged.

Commissioners took no action on Governmental Tort Claim vouchers from AT&T Oklahoma for damages at 18600 North 177th East Avenue (EW 410 Road and NS 4106), Collinsville, and at 218 North 425 Road, Pryor Creek. Helm suggested the Board seek the advice of District Attorney Gene Haynes on how to deal with the tort claims.

Commissioner said the utility is seeking damages for cut lines.

In other county business commissioners approved:

-- appropriations for Use Tax $48,873; Unrestricted Highway $236,400; E-911 $8,607

--transfer of funds from Sheriff's general fund travel to vehicle maintenance $20,000; Election Board general fund M&O to Assessor general fund M&O $745; District 2 one cent sales tax M&O to capital outlay $200,000

--utility permit Rural Water District 5 Mayes Count for boring at NS 428 in District 1

--claim to State of Oklahoma for Alternatives to Detention/Transportatio Claim for October 2008 $4,220

--blanket purchase orders for D1 to Warren Power and Machinery for repairs to backhoe $6,500, to Everett Terry for tire repair $200; for EMS to Froman Oil $400; Sheriff's General to Speedy Lube $250, to Froman Oil $3,500; Sheriff's Jail account to Froman Oil $500, Bimbo Bakery $1,200, Farmers Brothers Coffee $600, Sysco Foods (Dec. produce) $2,200, Sysco Foods (groceries) $6,500, Warehouse Market $250, Diamond Drugs, Inc. $6,000, Diamond Medical Supply $200, PHS Mobil X-ray $600, St. Frances Lab $600

--Chairman Dan DeLozier signing off on environmental study for pump station CBDG funding for Rural Water District 8

--cooperative services agreement with Oklahoma State University and U.S Department of Agriculture for extension service.

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