This week at the meeting of the Osage County Board of County Commissioners, the commissioners received a report from the Osage County Nutrition Program and approved INCOG applications, signed a letter of compliance for the Bellissima Ranch and Resort in Sperry so they may build a wedding chapel and obtain a liquor license, and approved $1,500 to the County Building/Courthouse Review Committee to hire Frank Lorenzo to draft building layout designs for the Kennedy Building, the Whiting Building, and the County Courthouse.
Another item the Commissioners discussed was the signing of an inter-local agreement with the Dick Conner Correctional Center in District 3. The Correctional Center has asked for assistance from the County in order to clear the area around the observation towers. The Correctional Facility has been having an issue with individuals using debris around the fence line to conceal tossing contraband over the fence. The Commissioners signed the agreement. The Commissioners will meet again next Monday at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska at 10am. Barnsdall Mayor Brock Moore is waiting for word from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality that the town's water is safe again for drinking. A boil water order was issued on Friday and the town's restaurants were shut down on Saturday due to the water issue.
Moore said the schools have concerns and may cancel school tomorrow. The Oklahoma National Guard brought in a 2,000 gallon water tanker on Saturday. It's located behind the Ethel Briggs library at 412 S. 5th Street. Residents are asked to bring their own containers to fill with water. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Boil order for residents of Barnsdall. Residents are urged to bring all water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before consuming, or use an alternate such as bottled water.
Residents will be notified when the water is once again safe for consumption. A boil order is issued when a public water supply exceeds a certain maximum contaminant level which could be harmful to the health of consumers. The results of the February 2016 Federal Grand Jury were announced Thursday by Danny C. Williams Sr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Pawhuska resident, 30-year-old John Stephen Mashunkashey is charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms after prior felony convictions.
Mashunkashey faces the statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; not more than five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and not more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for felon in possession of firearms The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Osage Nation Police Department are the investigating agencies. This week at the Meeting of the Osage County Board of County Commissioners, the Commissioners had several items on the agenda however, Osage County Sheriff Ty Koch stole the stage when he announced that he will be retiring at the end of this year and therefore will not be running for reelection as Osage County Sheriff. Sheriff Koch has been with the Osage County Sheriff's Department for 27 years and has served as Osage County Sheriff for 11 years.
On the agenda for the meeting was a motion to approve additional funds for the maintenance of the solar power system at the Osage County Fairground in Pawhuska, a motion to sign the critical finds and bridge closing memorandum, and numerous items to be declared surplus; all motions were approved. The Osage County Board of County Commissioners will meet again next Monday at 10am at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska. It's official, the Osage Nation has announced it has won the sealed bid to purchase 43,000 acres in Osage County. The land, owned by media mogul Ted Turner, better known as Bluestem Ranch was placed on auction and all bids had to be submitted by January 25.
Turner's estate contacted the Osage Nation on the 28th to report that “the Nation was the high bidder and the preferred buyer.” The Osage Nation will now begin the finalization process on the purchase and the sale is expected to be completed this month. The purchase will make the Osage Nation one of the the largest land holders in Osage County. Because the auction was conducted as a sealed bid the monetary amount for the land purchase has not been released. Read more about the purchase at OsageNews.org. |
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