By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
EL RENO – With a rise in vehicle expenses, Canadian County’s elected officials are now eligible to receive larger travel reimbursements.
Canadian County commissioners this week approved a resolution establishing new travel allowances for the county’s eight elected officials.
The Oklahoma Legislature, during the recently concluded legislative session, passed legislation increasing how much elected officials across the state are eligible to receive for work-related travel.
“It is needed to cover the costs of driving a personal vehicle,” said Canadian County Commission Chairman Dave Anderson, referring to the higher prices of fuel and tires.
The new Canadian County resolution sets these monthly travel reimbursement limits for elected officers:
- County Commissioners – $1,000
- County Sheriff – $1,000
- County Assessor – $900
- County Clerk – $800
- Court Clerk – $800
- County Treasurer – $800
State auditors recommended Canadian County commissioners approve a resolution specifying the new travel reimbursement amounts, according to Chairman Anderson.
All three commissioners did just that at their June 26th weekly meeting inside the Canadian County Administration Building, 201 N Choctaw.
The Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO) was “very supportive” of the legislation, District 1 Commissioner Tom Manske noted.
Previous travel allowances were $700 for the commissioners and sheriff, $600 for the assessor, and $500 for the county clerk, court clerk and treasurer.
Monday marked the final regular Canadian County Commissioners’ meeting of fiscal year 2022-23.
With a new fiscal year starting July 1, the six-page meeting agenda was filled with annual contract renewals and updates.
ODDS N ENDS …
Among other business, the three commissioners approved:
- Canadian County’s participation in the Oklahoma Self-Insurance Group’s property/liability insurance program at a cost of $735,138 for FY23-24.
- An interlocal agreement between Canadian County District 1 and the City of El Reno for road surface improvements.
- Two inventory transfers allowing District 1 to “trade” an Economover Box Blade to the Expo & Event Center in exchange for two Port-A-Cool portable air-cooling fans.
- Annual memorandums of understanding between the Canadian County Health Department and the Concho Child Development Center to provide quarterly development screenings and with Mustang Public Schools for a toddler autism replication program.
- An annual agreement for three Canadian County sheriff’s deputies to provide security at Canadian Valley Technology Center’s two Canadian County campuses.
- Renewing a lease agreement between the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and Chris Moore for property on the south side of El Reno used as a garage. Undersheriff Kevin Ward pointed out the owner had charged the same rent since 2014 and was increasing the rate by 10%, which he called “very reasonable.”
- Sale of property in Berkley Estates-Section 5 to Warren Wolfe for $100. Wolfe was the only bidder on the property, which the county acquired through a delinquent tax resale and now goes back on the tax rolls.
- Renewing contracts with Hughes, Seminole and Woodward counties to utilize detention bed space at the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center. Annual contracts with 18 counties have been approved over the past three weeks.
Undersheriff Ward presented the weekly county jail report showing an inmate population totaling 195, with 169 prisoners at the El Reno detention center and 26 others housed in contracted counties.
The total count is down two from last week as 44 prisoners await transfer to state Department of Corrections’ custody.
