Commissioners grant adjustment to EMS boundary lines

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted to adjust EMS boundary lines during an April 15 meeting.

Matt Bonnell, Cherokee Nation EMS supervisor, said they are putting an ambulance in Hulbert and Northeastern Health System EMS currently covers north of State Highway 51, while CN EMS covers south of S.H. 51.

"Mike Cates said NHS is planning on putting an ambulance in Peggs and so they requested this area from us. Both directors are here and have agreed upon it," Bonnell said.

Cates, NHS EMS director, said the fire boundaries have not changed and will stay the same should the adjustment be approved.

In other business, the board voted to rescind a waiver and release for encroachment and construction to 10-acres of property on Clyde Maher Road that was contingent upon approval from the District Attorney's Office.

During an April 1 meeting, Jasen Wright, owner of Century 21 Wright Real Estate, said commissioners approved a waiver back in 2006 and the issue made it to where the title insurance can't be obtained, the buyer can't get mortgage, and the home can't be sold any other way except for cash.

The waiver would have allowed that the title insurance and mortgage could be obtained. District 1 Commissioner and Chair Bobby Whitewater advised that the DA's Office denied the waiver.

The board gave its nod to the placement of flower bed "planters" at the new Cherokee County Livestock Arena. OSU Extension and 4-H Educator Carolan Schaefer said the purpose is to grow species native to the area and to educate 4-H youth on responsible gardening techniques.

"This was something my team leaders came up with [and] they just wanted to beautify the place out there. We spent the weekend actually going around and picking up trash on Douglas Avenue as well as around the building, and the kids had come to me and asked whether or not we could do some kind of planters," Schaefer said.

The planters would also be combined with water recycling barrels in order of not having to use water hoses; however, District 3 Commission Clif Hall said he didn't believe the barrels could handle the volume of water coming out of the downspouts off the new building, but he offered a few suggestions to help.

Tahlequah Compliance Coordinator Ray Hammons said the Grand River Dam Authority supplied the city with rain barrels, and Schaefer was welcomed to use those.

District 2 Commissioner Chris Jenkins’ request for approval of a Oklahoma Department of Transportation county action report/add report 1.12 miles on West Shady Lane was granted.

All claims, purchase orders, blanket purchase orders, appropriations, and transfers were approved.

What's next

The next Board of Cherokee County Commissioners meeting is slated for Monday, May 6, at 9 a.m., at the Cherokee County Courthouse.