Presentations given on tax credits, road projects

A proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month was read and approved during Monday’s meeting.

In Okmulgee County, there were 211 reports of child abuse and neglect during Fiscal Year 2022, the proclamation stated. Community partners aimed at stemming child abuse include social service agencies, schools county and city law enforcement, civic organizations, businesses and faith communities.

“We call upon all … to increase their participation in our efforts to prevent child maltreatment and strengthen the communities in which we live,” the document stated.

Josh Rhodes of the Garland Company presented the commissioners with information about the Infrastructure

SEE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, PAGE A3 Investment and Jobs Act that was enacted recently.

The IRS has released guidance on how counties can obtain additional funding, including tax credits not previously available. The direct pay option allows certain non-taxable entities, such as county governments, to directly monetize certain tax credits. Applicable entities can elect to treat these tax credits as refundable payments of tax. Such entities are eligible to receive a direct payment from the IRS for any amount paid in excess of their tax liability for credits.

The Inflation Reduction Act also allows eligible taxpayers that are not tax-exempt entities to transfer all or a portion of certain tax credits, to an unrelated party, such as the company making improvements on the courthouse.

The county is currently in the process of courthouse upgrades to include heating and air, a new roof, and replacement windows to make the historic structure more energy efficient.

Rhodes stated that there was $28.6 billion dollars in the Inflation Reduction Action, which is a direct fund, but the majority of the money will be dispersed through grants.

Commissioner David Walker asked whether the roof replacement currently underway could make use of the tax credit.

Rhodes stated he believes that it could be done once the project is complete, but is still awaiting confirmation. He added that the tear-off of the old roof is complete, and is looking at being completely finished in about a month. At that time, the company will schedule an inspection walk with the commissioners for final approval and sign-off.

Monty Proctor, District Engineer of the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD), presented the commissioners with the CIRB 5-Year plan for county roads and bridges and the project prioritization resolution.

Bridges and roads on the plan projected for the next five years are:

• Bridge in Preston over Union Pacific Railroad – state highway work is planned in the area so that project is scheduled for FY 2025.

• Bristlecone Road – FY 2026.

• Low water crossing on Creager Road.

• Flat Rock Trust on Hwy. 75.

• Hectorville Road.

• Prairie Bell Road, from Hwy. 62 to Bristlecone Road – four mile road project. Will begin when Bristlecone Road is complete.

Proctor recommended the list be approved in the order submitted, though some projects may not take as long.

The board approved the resolution for the plan.

Agenda items approved were:

• Minutes of March 31 meeting.

• Officers’ Report from County Clerk for the month of March.

• Blanket Purchase Orders: Health Department to MCN for X-rays for $500, and to Amazon for $3,000; General Government to Cookson Hills Publishers for legal publications, $1,500; Emergency Management and General Government to Dildine Lawn Care for $400, District 3 to Cintas for $700 and O’Reilly’s for $400.

• Award of Bid #15 for a 2022 or newer truck for the Grayson Fire Department to Harlan Ford.

• Award of Bid #16 for a 2022 or newer truck for District 3 to Harlan Ford.

There were no bids received on the property located at 5005 N. Wood Drive (former DHS building).

During the March 31 meeting to end the month, the board approved the following agenda items:

• Minutes from March 27 meeting.

• Removing a portion of North 110 Road from county maintenance. This road is about 6/10ths of a mile and ends on private property. There is no through access.

• Resolution to close Public Ways and Right of Ways in the Preston area. The action was approved in the last meeting.

• Claims.

• Nomination of Kenneth Anderson by the City of Okmulgee to the Okmulgee County Ambulance Authority.

• Nomination of Rick Mitchell by the City of Beggs to the Okmulgee County Ambulance Authority.