Trane provides update on courthouse construction

On Monday, the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners heard an update from Trane representative Jason Davey about the ongoing construction at the courthouse. Specifically, they discussed the recent improvements to the facility including work on the HVAC system, windows, and light fixtures. The representative reported that recent work to the courthouse has been successful and visitors should begin to see and feel the differences. He reported that they were able to start all equipment received from their Trane technicians.

“So that has passed the inspections and the protocols that Trane has with the manufacturer to make sure those are working as they need to be,” he said.

The representative also reported that they are awaiting globes for the external, fourth-floor part of the building.

“As soon as it’s going into our hands, we’ll have all the new lighting for the exterior of the building, which will bring it back to its original design back from the early 1910s.”

Weather delayed some of their glass work but the representative said that they’ll get to work on the third-floor windows in the coming days. Construction work on Courtroom 3, entryways and general housekeeping were also discussed.

“It seems like we’ve been here for a while but this is a big project and we appreciate everybody’s patience.” the representative said.

Also in attendance was Mayor Mickey Baldwin, who offered an invitation to Monday night’s Valentine Spaghetti Dinner hosted by the non-profit Landmark For All Generations at the Elks Lodge in Okmulgee.

“It’s a community outreach – trying to restore our city and bring honor to where we began as a community … we also want to make it not just in the past, but also looking forward,” Mayor Baldwin said.

Each ticket holder was welcomed to a night of music, food, a photo booth and a silent auction, with proceeds going toward the continued restoration of the Okmulgee’s Black Hospital.

Later in the meeting, Commissioner David Walker read a proclamation that marked the week of Fe. 19-23, as Farm Bureau Week in Okmulgee County, in the state of Oklahoma.

Last November, the Okmulgee County Farm Bureau was awarded the 2023 Oklahoma Farm Bureau John I. Taylor Award in recognition of the group’s efforts.

— Also approved at the meeting were:

• Two blanket purchase orders for District 1: Cintas for $800 and S&H Auto for $1,000.

• Reimbursement claims for the election board secretary’s salary and the district attorney.

• 324A claims for the Bristlecone Rd. project.

• Disposal of equipment for District 2 and the donation of a filing cabinet from the County Clerk to District 2.

• Two error corrections: The first was a transfer of funds back to District 2 after D2 paid a PSO bill for the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds. The second was to correct a payment that the Okmulgee County Fair Board made out of the wrong account.

Before entering into an executive session, the board heard the weekly report from EM Director Jeff Moore, which can be found in full in this edi-