Local Business Owner Appointed to Industrial Authority Board

This week at the meeting of the Osage County Board of County Commissioners the Commissioners approved the purchase of a new 2016 Freightliner Snow Plow/Sander, approved Bruce Carter to the Osage County Industrial Authority Board of Trustees, discussed and approved funding for the County Courthouse/Building Review Committee, and made a decision regarding tobacco use at the County Courthouse in Pawhuska.

The County approved the purchase of the 2016 Freightliner for $137,694.00 for District 2. The vehicle was financed through Welch State Bank.

Bruce Carter is the owner of the Tallgrass Art Gallery in Pawhuska, Carter has been working diligently to bring the Western Art Scene to Pawhuska and Osage County. In Carter's efforts to boost tourism in the Osage he has also successfully recruited the Western Woman's Art Association to hold their 2017 exhibition in Pawhuska, and has plans to establish an Art Academy in Pawhuska.

OCIA Chairman Eddy Red-Eagle brought the recommendation before the County Commissioners, they agreed that Carter would be a good choice for the OCIA and approved the nomination.

The Commissioners approved a motion to authorize the County Courthouse/Building Review Committee to bring in Snowden Engineering Inc. to perform site observations for multiple building locations in Pawhuska, including the Kennedy Building, the Whiting Building and the County Courthouse. The site observation will give the Engineers an idea of what to look for structurally to determine the feasibility of repairing any of the three building for County use.

Lastly the Commissioners approved the motion to purchase a small building, i.e. three sided bus stop, to be used as a smoking location at the County Courthouse in efforts to get smokers away from the entrance. The building will be purchased and installed as a first measure to keep citizens away from the hazards of smoking inmates and second hand smoke while doing business at the Courthouse. The next step would be to outlaw smoking at the Courthouse if issues continue to arise.

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