Commissioners talk internal controls, risk management

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, during an Aug. 5 meeting, discussed internal controls and risk management among elected officials.

District 1 Commissioner and Chair Bobby Whitewater said there was "lack" with internal controls and and commissioners wanted to make sure there was communication and transparency. Cherokee County Assessor Stephanie Teague said communication was key.

"They talked about the risk management in there. I think as a group we all got together after we [were] made aware of this and we said, internal controls, we defined that and what we want to do and then we took it to the next level of putting a pretty good system in the courthouse to keep it from being taken over or [threatened]," said District 3 Commissioner Clif Hall.

Yolette Ross, Cherokee County representative with the Eastern Oklahoma Library System Board, gave the board an updated the board on a report that was requested by Whitewater. The Tahlequah Public Library had a 112,507 door count, 93,838 books, movies, and music were borrowed, 26,585 computer and Wi-Fi users, and 10,864 program attendees.

"Also, Tahlequah Public Library received a grant to purchase an OP, which is an overhead projector that projects interactive games on the floor from the overhead," Ross said. "Programs that were offered, 352; community meetings that were held, 377; e-books, audio-books, e-movies, music borrowed [were] 45,030."

The Hulbert Community Library had a 10,411 door count; 9,679 books, music, and movies were borrowed; 1,807 computer and Wi-Fi users; and 1,881 program attendees. There were 174 programs offered at the library; and 4,645 borrowed e-books, audio-books, e-movies, and music.

The board gave its nod to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office application for the 2024 Sheriff's Assistance grant in which Sheriff Jason Chennault said his office would be eligible for $250,000.

Twenty-two Tasers from the sheriff's office were declared surplus and Chennault said new Tasers replaced the older ones last year.

Commissioners approved a resolution to receive funds from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for fiscal year 2025 ad valorem veterans and surviving spouses exemption, reimbursement. The payment of $61,907 will be appropriated to the school districts.

"This is good thing, this is the first time they've ever reimbursed us for that since it became a law," Teague said.

What's next

The next Board of Cherokee County Commissioners meeting is slated for Monday, Aug. 19, at 9 a.m., at the Cherokee County Courthouse.