The Pottawatomie County Board of County Commissioners approved three different quotes totaling $69,590 for Shawnee Public Schools during the meeting Monday, July 25. Shawnee will use its portion of the education sales tax monies to cover the projects.
The first project approved is for seat backs for the center section of bleacher seating at Jim Thorpe Stadium. Assistant Superintendent Aaron Espolt said the seating is moveable and can be used at other sporting events. The accepted quote was for $23,500 from School and Office Products.
A quote from AAA Playground for $17,900 to purchase rubber mulch was also approved. Espolt said the plan is to change out the wood mulch for rubber mulch at one site each year. The first site will be the Shawnee Early Childhood Center.
The last quote approved was from Mc-Gregor Brick and Stone to fix the east entrance to the PAAC (Performing Arts & Athletic Center). Espolt said the current material on the entrance is showing a lot of wear and they would like to update it with sturdier material, brick.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received approval from the board to accept the Byrnes Grant. For years this grant has been applied for and split between the Sheriff’s Office and the Shawnee Police Department. This year each entity will receive $10,900.
Deputy Steven Sample said the Sheriff’s Office is looking into less lethal options, such as bean bags and tasers, to have available to the officers.
A request from Branch Towers to place a communications tower at 1409 Gordon Cooper Drive was placed before the board. After some discussion, it was determined the buildings in the vicinity of the proposed site for the tower were within a fall zone.
Dist. 1 Commissioner Melissa Dennis said, “I think we owe it to our constituents protect them first.” Dennis made the motion to deny the request and it was seconded by Dist. 2 Commissioner Randy Thomas. The motion passed unanimously.
Six county owned properties located in Dist. 3 were on the agenda to set prices. Dist. 3 Commissioner Eddie Stackhouse said four of the lots were not for sale due to the close proximity to railways. These included parcels at 504 N. Bonita, 409 E. Highland, 728 E. Highland, and 730 E. Highland. A price for one lot at 645 N. Broadway was set at $350. Pricing of $350 per lot (three lots total) was also set for a parcel of 740 E. Forrest.
OMMA Certificates of Compliance were approved for the following five businesses: Growklahoma Product Placement, LLC, Whole Leaf Holistic, Springbrook Dispensary, LLC, Hillbilly Harvest, LLC, and BCN Industries, LLC.
Emergency Management Deputy Director Shane Colley said, “We’ve already got like 14 new ones for next week.”
He said the deadline for submission is noon today (Thursday, July 28) to be on Monday’s agenda. The deadline to submit to OMMA is 11:59 pm Monday, Aug. 1. The moratorium goes into effect Aug. 2.
A special meeting was held with all the county officials immediately following the regular meeting. The board and department leaders discussed strategies for the upcoming move to the new administrative building.
The building is nearing completion but it is looking to be late Aug. or Sep. before it is ready to be occupied.
The board will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Aug. 1 at 9 am at 14101 Acme Road.
