WATONGA – The Blaine County commissioners voted Monday to lift the countywide outdoor burn ban after storms rolled through that morning and gave the area some muchneeded precipitation.
The ban has been in place off and on since December amid unusually dry weather in western Oklahoma. But the forecast calls for a break in the drought, with more storms expected Wednesday after Monday’s downpour.
There were several guests on hand for the meeting, joining commissioners Mike Allen, Brandon Shultz and Raymond Scheffler and other county employees. Most were there to commemorate Oklahoma Home and Community Education Week, sponsored by OSU Extension. The commissioners voted to recognize the week with a proclamation.
Another guest there, Hitchcock resident Steve Smith, talked about County Road 720. He said the road is in bad shape and asked the commissioners to find a solution.
During the meeting, the commissioners also:
• Passed a measure clarifying term expiration for the appointment of Gayle Hajny to the Excise Board and Equalization Board on a four-year term
• Reappointed William Hill to the Canton/Longdale 522 EMS Board on a fiveyear term
• Approved a division order from Plainsmen Energy for county-owned mineral interest at Sec 13, T 18N, R 12W
• Approved a request from the Canton Fire Department to pay Cooper Creek Manufacturing $716.50 for truck parts and repair, and also pay Chickasaw Personal Communications $2,000.20 for two radios and miscellaneous radio equipment, plus shipping
• And approved an access drive permit and road crossing permit.
The commissioners will meet again on Monday, May 9 at 9 a.m. in the Blaine County Courthouse. They are expected to hear from the architects who are designing a new county jail.