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Commissioners Select
Proposed Jail Site
Kay County Commissioners unanimously
approved a location for the proposed Kay County Detention Facility
Monday morning approving the purchase of 55 acres southwest of
Newkirk.
The cost of the site is $100,000 with $2,000 placed in escrow
at the signing of the contract. The land is being purchased from
the Gelmers family.
The commissioners also voted to authorize commission chairman
Laile Wilson to represent the county in all negotiations for
bank financing on the purchase.
The site is located on Dry Road, just west of Highway 77. The
site is also located just east and adjacent to the Kay County
District Two County Barn.
The commissioners held a 30 minute executive session before announcing
the purchase of the property.
"I think it is a perfect location," said district one
commissioner Dee Schieber after the vote on the property purchase.
"Fifty-five acres is more than we need but I think the price
is very fair."
The Kay County Justice Facilities Authority has stated they would
like approximately 10 acres for the new 288 bed facility. The
facility is estimated to cost $20 million with a special three-quarter
of a cent county sales tax election set for May 13 for county
voters to decide the fate of the new jail. The sales tax revenue
generated from the tax would pay for the construction of a new
jail along with the operations and maintenance for the facility.
The jail construction would be paid off in 20 years with half
of the tax to be removed at that point.
The other half would remain permanently for operations and maintenance
costs.
Kay County District Attorney Mark Gibson said the county is purchasing
the land only if the county sales tax issue is passed.
Gibson added that the sellers would not sell a portion of the
55 acres of land.
Commissioners did not elaborate on the use for the land other
than the acreage needed for the county jail.
District two commissioner Steve Austin said he hopes the City
of Newkirk can provide utility service to the new jail facility,
if approved by the voters.
Commission chairman Laile Wilson said the commissioners do not
control the utility service on the new facility.
For the City of Newkirk to sell utilities to the county facility,
the city would have to annex the property into the city limits.
City officials have expressed an interest in selling utilities
to the county in the past and have asked jail authority members
to keep the facility in the Newkirk area.
Justice Facilities Authority member Darryl Grosshardt said the
location southwest of Newkirk was the best location considered
by authority members.
"This location was one of four sites identified early in
the site selection process by the authority," Grosshardt
said. "I believe the accessibility of the location to the
highway is what set it apart. There were other sites considered
but I believe this was the best."
Sheriff Everette Van Hoesen, a member of the justice facilities
authority, said Monday that he likes the location of the proposed
jail site as well.
"I like the accessibility of the location," said the
sheriff. "It will really help other law enforcement entities
in their transporting of prisoners. "
Sheriff Van Hoesen added, "I am glad they took action today
so that people will know that this is not a secret deal. This
took some time as part of the negotiations process."
Van Hoesen said the authority would not have taken the issue
to the electorate without a known and established jail location.
The next Kay County Justice Facilities Authority meeting will
be held March 28. A campaign for the sales tax election is set
to begin April 1.
New Senior Citizen
Center Update
The City of Newkirk
has recently gone out for bids on the Newkirk Senior Citizens,
Inc. building with that bid opening in the next few weeks.
Members of the Newkirk Senior Citizen's Board say the project
has $425,000 to $450,000 earmarked for the new center but say
that more funds are needed to complete the project.
The total money includes kitchen cabinets but no appliances,
according to board member Kate Williams.
Williams said this week the appliances for the building will
be expensive due to A-1 code and health department regulations.
A sprinkler system also has to be installed due to the kitchen
facilities and alarm system.
Monies will also be needed to fund a parking lot for the new
center.
Williams said that donations are still being accepted for the
new facility.
She added that a drawing of the new center is available at www.oknewkirk.com.
Williams added that a hambuger fry at the Country Club is planned
for the near future.
School Board Continues
Personnel Discussions
The Newkirk Board
of Education held a special meeting Friday night, continuing
their discussions on hiring school personnel for 2008-9.
After a second executive session regarding school personnel this
month, Superintendent Carl Barnes said the board did not make
any decisions and will continue to study the situation. "There
are a lot of unknowns right now," Barnes said. "We
are continuing to discuss our school finances as it pertains
to personnel. We are looking at a number of options to reduce
school spending without cutting personnel. That is the last thing
we want to do."
Barnes said that natural attrition will play a part in the school's
financial situation. Brad Larimer resigned last week and there
could be other resignations according to the supertintendent.
He added that the legislature might step in with some funding
that would alleviate financial problems for the district.
School officials are concerned that dropping enrollment may cause
the district to lose state aid money next year.
Barnes said the district is being cautious in predicting finances
for the upcoming year.
In other business, Barnes said the school is preparing bid specifications
for the purchase of a new 65 passenger bus.
Newkirk voters overwhelmingly approved a $75,000 bond issue to
purchase one new bus.
Barnes said the district will not have the funds in hand until
July 2008 so the specs will be going out to the three bus manufacturers
in the state for a July bid opening.
The superintendent added that a special meeting will be held
March 24 for the school's auditor to discuss the audit with the
board. He said that another special meeting to discuss personnel
might be held before the April 14th regular meeting.
Lucas Speaks At Town Meeting
Oklahoma Congressman
Frank Lucas spoke to a nice crowd at the Newkirk Heritage Center
Tuesday afternoon.
The republican congressman from Cheyenne is touring his congressional
area speakingat town meetings.
Lucas spoke to Newkirk residents concerning current issues in
Washington and then answered questions from the audience about
local issues.
Lucas said his main prority is passing a new farm bill or farm
bill extension.
He said the current fam bill expires on April 15.
Cindy Daigle Replaces
Earlene
Lane at Chamber Post
EARLENE LANE (left) is
retiring from the Newkirk Chamber of Commerce while Cindy Daigle
(right) is the new chamber secretary.
The Newkirk Chamber of Commerce
is going through a changing of the guard as Earlene Lane is retiring
after eight years as the chamber executive secretary.
Cindy Daigle is Lane's replacement and has already started at
her new position.
Lane started her position with the Newkirk Chamber of Commerce
in September 1999 and has enjoyed every minute of her eight years.
"I just enjoyed working in Newkirk," Lane said Monday
morning. "You won't find better people anywhere and I got
to know so many great people in this job."
The chamber secretary has many functions, according to Lane.
They include answering phone inquiries about Newkirk, manage
the chamber office, and help organize banquets and activities.
"These are all very important because the chamber presidents
have regular employment so they can't be here all the time,"
Lane said. "So this job is really the face of the Newkirk
Chamber of Commerce. I enjoyed this job so much but it's time
for me to move on and do some other things."
Lane is retiring to spend more time with her grandchildren in
Stillwater and Dallas.
She also enjoyed working with Ambassador's Club, a local group
that welcomes businesses to Newkirk.
"They are such a great group," she said. "They
are so helpful and are willing to do anything anytime for Newkirk."
She added that the position works with the area chambers, communicates
with local businesses, and coordinates many chamber activities.
Lane previously worked at Eastman National Bank in Newkirk.
"I worked here in town and then worked out of town for a
while," she said. "It was so much fun to become reaquainted
with the people here."
Lane said that it will be a challenge for Cindy Daigle, who is
now taking over as the secretary.
"She is not from Newkirk so she will be learning as she
goes but she will do fine," Lane said.
Daigle is originally from Connecticut and came to this area as
a volunteer gatekeeper one winter at Kaw Lake. Cindy and husband
Al were doing a lot of traveling but really enjoyed Newkirk and
decided to stay.
They currently reside north of Newkirk.
Daigle also is employed at the Newkirk Herald Journal.
The Chamber is located at 114 S. Main and is open from 9 a.m.
- 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Treasurer Reports
Allocations
Christy Kennedy, Kay County
Treasurer, reports the following apportionment of funds for the
month of February,2008. Kennedy would also like to remind taxpayers
that their second half tax payment is due by March 31st. If you
are mailing in your statement make sure it is postmarked by the
March 31st date. Please call 580-362-2523, email at ckennedy@courthouse.kay.ok.us
or come by and visit the treasurer's office 8:00am to 4:30pm
Monday-Friday if Kennedy or a member of her staff can assist
you in any way.
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