LeFlore County commissioner minutes 2-23-2026
LeFlore County commissioner minutes from the regular business meeting Monday with Chairman Jamie Oliver presiding. Also, present were Vice- Chair Mike Parker, Member Josh Blaylock and County Clerk 1st Deputy Jedd Kirby. Absent: County Clerk Kelli Ford.
The following action was taken by the board:
(1.) Chairman Jamie Oliver called meeting to order.
(2.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve the minutes of regular meeting held February 17, 2026. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(3.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Mike Parker to approve purchase orders as presented. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(4.) Monthly Fee Reports: None presented.
(5.) Transfer of Appropriations: None presented.
(6.) Blanket Purchase Orders: None presented.
(7.) New Business: None discussed.
(8.) Contract Labor/ Service Agreements, Annual Contracts: None presented.
(9.) Burn Ban: Not needed at this time. No discussion.
(10.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve resolution allowing County Treasurer to reinvest surplus of County Health Department funds for March 2026. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(11.) Motion was made Mike Parker and seconded by Jamie Oliver to approve purchase of one (1) Kubota SVL97 – 3HFCC Skid Steer and attachments to benefit LeFlore County Commissioner District 1, through Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract in the amount of $97,534.37. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(12.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve service agreement between LeFlore County and Emergent 3 Inc. (E3) regarding implementation of government safety app and services with initial set up and service cost of $7,500. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(13.) Motion was made by Josh Blaylock and seconded by Mike Parker to approve flood plain development permit application numbers 224202660 and 224202661 as submitted by CoxCom, LLC regarding construction within county right of way located in LeFlore County Commissioner District 2, Section 18, Township 7 North, Range 26 East. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(14.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve declaration of surplus as submitted by the Sheriffs Office regarding county inventory item B-212.002, Idville ID maker, purchased August 24, 2015 in the amount of $4,509.80. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(15.) Motion was made by Mike Parker and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve resolution for disposing of equipment as submitted by the Sheriffs Office regarding county inventory item B-212.002, Idville ID maker, purchased August 24, 2015 in the amount of $4,509.80. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(16.) Motion was made by Mike Parker and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve programming resolution for project number 26-CBRI-D1-RD-P118 regarding improvements on Prairie Bell Road located in LeFlore County Commissioner District 1. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(17.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve resolution to update officer designations by removing Tim Davis as Requisitioning Officer from all Heavener Fire Department accounts and replace with Josh Cruse. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(18.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Mike Parker to approve Form 969 in accordance with Title 62 Section 193, as submitted by the LeFlore County Assessor, regarding loss of revenue due to exempt manufacturing facilities allowed for the year 2025. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(19.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve plat maps as presented by M.C. Ollar for subdivision Ridgeview Estates Addition Phase 2. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(20.) Motion was made by Josh Blaylock and seconded by Mike Parker to approve ODOT 324A claim in the amount of $5,458.86 as submitted by the Oklahoma Circuit Engineering District #3 regarding JP 31236, Walker Mountain Road. Motion carried, all voting yes.
(21.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve KEDDO REAP close – out document and affidavit certifying REAP completion for KEDDO REAP K9034-25. Motion carried, all voting yes.
Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Mike Parker to adjourn. Motion was approved all voting yes, Oliver-yes, Parker-yes, Blaylock-yes.
Muse man injured in auto accident
Muse man injured in auto accident Sunday at approximately 11:37 p.m. on Highway 59 in LeFlore County.
Colin Wqlker, 72, of Muse, was driving south on Highway 59 near state highway 1 when he attempted to negotiate a turn. The automobile crossed the centerline, departed the road to the left and struck a tree.
Walker was transported by Air Evac to UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas with head, neck, back, leg and internal injuries according to the report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He is in critical but stable condition.
There were no passengers in Walker’s vehicle. Seatbelts were not in use at the time of the accident, according to the report.
The accident was investigated by Trooper Hines.
Updated basketball brackets
Updated basketball brackets for LeFlore County teams
Boys
Girls
To make a correction or addition, email [email protected].
Heavener Cemetery Associaion to take bids
Job Description and Bid Information for Heavener Cemetery Maintenance
The Heavener Cemetery Association is taking bids for the information below. Anybody interested in the bid should have their bid in by March 15. Bids should be mailed to Heavener Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 152, Heavener, Oklahoma 74937.
#1. The Cemetery maintenance includes, but is not limited to:
a. A minimum of 2 mows per month, per cemetery, during grass growing
season.
b. Tree trimming, as needed for aesthetic purposes.
c. Grave leveling, new and old.
d. Dirt and Rock removal.
e. Flower pick up and removal (especially after winds.)
f. Picking up trash.
#2. There are 3 Heavener Cemeteries included in this contract: Memorial (northside), Southside, and Hillside.
#3. Each contract will be bid and awarded annually by the Heavener Cemetery Association, and will be paid in 12 equal monthly amounts.
#4. The yearly contract for Cemetery Maintenance typically starts and ends on, or around, May 1st of each year. If the Association feels that the vendor is not fulfilling the requirements, the contract can be voided immediately at no cost to either party.
#5. The Heavener Cemetery Association issues specifications to qualified bidders, reviews bids, and selects the most desirable vendor—not necessarily based on price quotes alone. HCA reserves the right to consider other qualifications such as reliability, past performance, etc. along with the price quoted. No single person has the authority to decide who will be issued a contract. HCA makes this decision as a whole.
#6. To be added to our bidders list, a vendor should forward the HCA their Name or Company name, Address, Phone number, Email, Equipment, Manpower, Experience, Satisfied Customer lists and/or other comments.
The mailing address is: Heavener Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 152,
Heavener, OK 74937
Policy committee deadline
By Rep. RICK WEST
Thursday, Feb. 19, was the deadline for House biIlls to be passed out of initial policy committees or Appropriations & Budget subcommittees. Here’s a look at a few that advanced:
House Bill 3056 passed in the Agriculture Committee, which I vice chair. This bill has to do with legalizing non-pasteurized, or raw milk. The author of the bill pointed out that many in rural areas were raised on non-pasteurized milk. This bill is strictly voluntary. If a consumer wants to purchase this milk, they can. If not, they don’t have to. This would apply to all forms of milk – cows, goats, donkeys, whatever. The bill also would protect the producer from liability.
House Bill 2958 would give a nine percent pay raise to state employees. They have not had a salary increase since 2019. The author of the bill said a dollar in 2019 costs $1.27 today. This could help us retain state employees with the hopes of delivering more effective services and programs to our constituents. The anticipated fiscal impact of this bill is $174.4 million.
I passed House Bill 2962, which would remove the statutory time limits and refund caps for claims on tax overpayments. The bill also would extend unlimited refund rights for members of federally recognized tribes and their former wards seeking reimbursement for taxes unlawfully collected on tax-exempt reservation lands. This was a constituent request.
I also passed House Bill 2967. I’m calling this the grandpa bill. It would expand the list of vehicle ownership transfers that would be exempt from excise tax to include those between grandparents and their grandchildren.
These bills still must go through oversight or the full A&B committee and then get scheduled on the floor, then pass in the Senate. There’s a long way to go, but progress is progress.
On Friday, I had a meeting with the assistant director of tourism. We visited the Heavener Runestone. We met with the Heavener City Council and then with the Friends of the Runestone. This is just the beginning to bring these three groups together to discuss the possibility of some kind of state involvement in this attraction.
Wednesday was FFA Day at the State Capitol. LeFlore County was holding its premium sale Friday, so many 4-H and FFA students were involved in that. Still, I saw a lot of blue coats around the Capitol. Always good to see future leaders. I have 101 thank you notes and pictures on two bulletin boards in my office from these students. Reminds me of what I’m doing here.
I did have a good visit the prior week with Jeremy Jackson, the superintendent of Pocola Schools. He brought a few students and one of his educators to the Capitol. Always great to see folks from home.
Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.
As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at [email protected].
Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
Warmer temperatures return Tuesday
Weather forecast for Tuesday is for partly cloudy skies and warmer temperatures for Heavener, LeFlore County, southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.
The high is forecast to be 69 degrees with a low of 52 degrees.
Sunrise was 6:53 a.m. Sunset is 6:09 p.m.
Monday’s high was 52 with a low of 30. No rain was received, leaving the monthly total at 3.05 inches. Average rainfall for February is 2.90 inches.
Average temperatures for Feb. 24 are a high of 58 and low of 29. Records for the date were a high of 70 in 1981 and a low of 20 in 1975.
Calendar of events
Calendar of events for the next week for Heavener, LeFlore County, southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you know of an event coming up, please CONTACT me.
Tuesday
High school basketball: Class 3A Area III regional: Heavener boys vs. Chandler 7:30 p.m. at Beggs; Class 3A Area III girls: Spiro vs. Chandler 6 p.m. at Beggs; Class 2A Area III boys: Howe vs. Colcord 7:30 p.m. at Porter; Pocola vs. Chouteau 7:30 p.m. at Chouteau; Class 2A Area III girls: Panama vs. Warner 6 p.m. at Warner; Howe vs. Colcord 6 p.m. at Porter;
Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC
Wednesday
Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC
Thursday
Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon EOMC
High school basketball: Class 4A Area III regional: Poteau boys vs. Idabel at Broken Bow 7:30 p.m., Poteau girls vs. Idabel 6 p.m. at Broken Bow; Class 3A area III boys Spiro vs. Beggs 7:30 p.m.; Class 3A Area III girls: Heavener vs. Beggs 6 p.m. at Beggs; Class 2A Area III boys: Panama vs. Warner 7:30 p.m.; regional, area tournaments; Class 2A Area III girls: Pocola vs. Ketchum 6 p.m. at Chouteau; Class A Area IV boys: Talihina vs. Rock Creek 2:30 p.m. at Wilburton; Class A Area IV girls: Talihina vs. Rock Creek 1 p.m. at Wilburton; Class A Area IV boys: Cameron vs. Wesleyan Christian 2:30 p.m. at Cleveland; Class BI Area III girls: Whitesboro vs. Welch 1 p.m. at Prague:
Heavener VFW bingo 6
Friday
High school basketball: regional, area tournaments TBD
Saturday
High school basketball: regional, area tournaments TBD
Monday
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
High school softball: Clayton at Cameron
High school baseball: Oktaha at Cameron
Poteau city meetings 5:30 p.m.
Today in history
1836
Alamo defenders call for help
On February 24, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William Travis issues a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops defending the Alamo, an old Spanish mission and fortress under siege by the Mexican army. A native of South Carolina, Travis moved to the Mexican state of Texas in 1831. He soon... read more
Civil War
1864
European History
2022
Latin American & Caribbean History
1946
Middle Eastern History
1991
U.S. Government and Politics
1803
1988
U.S. Presidents
1841
1868
Vietnam War
1968
World War I
1917
