During the meeting this week of the Osage County Commissioners, Kay Kelly from E/911 and Jerry Roberts Emergency Management Director provided quarterly updates. Kelly discussed the ongoing efforts to improve their GIS, geographic information system, and improving their County mapping. Kelly mentioned that they are currently working with the Osage Nation to improve their overlays on their GIS maps, specifically tribal land layers, however complications due to a recent update has stalled implementation.


Roberts discussed the first full scale fire drill at the County courthouse since he took office three years ago. Due to the schedule with trials and jury selection timing is very important when running a full fire drill, and Roberts reported that the drill was very successful with the exception that the electronic door at the rear of the building did not automatically unlock and had to be manually unlocked, however the maintenance company was able to come out the next day and fix the issue. Roberts did wish to extend a major thank you to the Pawhuska Fire Department for their roll in the drill along with the sheriffs department.


Lastly the Commissioner approved the payment to Chupps auction company in the amount of $11,600 and Century 21 of NE Oklahoma in the amount of $4,640 for services in the sale of the Kennedy Building. Although the sale of the building fell through the contract for services required the county to pay for the services. The Osage County Board of County Commissioners will meet again next Monday at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska at 10am.

The City of Pawhuska brought the discussion of preservation and utilization of the Kennedy Building to Commissioners Monday morning in the form of a Resolution requesting the Commissioners take into account responsible and timely utilization of the building by the purchaser for the purpose of economic development. 

Following the reading of the resolution the floor was opened for discussion, several members of the audience in attendance spoke regarding the resolution including Economic Development Director Joni Nash, Pawhuska Mayor Mark Buchanan, and building owner Eric Gomez. All speakers echoed the resolution stating that for the building go unused would be a waste of potential economic benefit and growth, including sales and ad valorem tax dollars. The commissioners, who had discussed a similar proposal in a previous meeting, agreed with the resolution, however they must look at any additional covenants added to the purchase from a legal standpoint and whether the requirements would make the building unsalable. The commissioners did not take any action on the resolution other than read and accept the resolution for record.

The next meeting of the Osage County Board of County Commissioners will be next Monday at 10am at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska.

​Two people are dead as a result of an accident north of Skiatook at about 11:15 Sunday night.  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports 50 year-old Roy T. Roberts of Barnsdall was southbound on State Highway 11 1.3 miles north of Skiatook.  His Chevy Tahoe went off the roadway on the left and hit a tree.  It continued another 24 feet and hit a second tree and stopped. 
 
Roberts and his passenger, 47 year-old Cindy M Roberts, also of Barnsdall were pinned in the vehicle for about 2 and a half hours before Skiatook Fire Department got them out.  They both died at the scene.
 
Both bodies were transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in Tulsa