Now on the 2nd day of February 2026, the County Commissioners in and for Washita County met in regular session with Chairman Chandler calling the meeting to order.
Chandler asked Kristen Dowell, County Clerk, for roll call. Roll call was answered by Gossen, present; Gray, present; Chandler, present.
Prayer was led by Commissioner Gray.
The Board reviewed the minutes of the previous regular meeting. Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to approve the minutes. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to approve the blanket purchase orders as filed in the County Clerk’s office. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Kristen Dowell, County Clerk, requested to be removed from the emergency contact list for the Activity Center and Courthouse stating she has been on the list for 13 years due to being the only Elected Official who lived in town. She stated she had spoken to David Gray, County Commissioner, about replacing her on the list. She also stated she does not mind helping, if needed. Motion made by Gossen seconded by Chandler to remove Kristen Dowell from both contact lists and add David Gray. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to sign an agreement between the City of Cordell and Washita County for work to be completed, in the approximate amount of $31,365.00, by District 2 at Adams Lake. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to sign the CED Auction Policies for the equipment surplus auction being held March 13-14, 2026 in Elk City, Oklahoma. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Chandler seconded by Gossen to sign Resolution No. 2026-1 to surplus the following equipment for District 3: D301-0079 – Tractor, D302-0105 – Truck w/dump bed, D304-0040 – Tractor, D304-0044 – Tractor, D358-0014 – Gopher Machine, D358-0015 – Gopher Machine, and D441-0089 – Rotary Mower. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to sign Resolution No. 2026-2 to surpls the following equipment for District 2: D304-0047 – Tractor, D304-0029 – Tractor, D307-0075 – Motor Grader, D404-0003 – Welder, D441-0074 – Mower, D441-0065 – Mower, and D301-0042 – Ford F-250 Pickup. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to not issue a burn ban for Washita at this time. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
The Board discussed the heat and air system at the Courthouse. Following repairs made to the pumps back in the summer months, the system still continues to not work correctly. A.T.’s Heat and Air came to look at the system and reported on Friday, January 30th that there is an issue with the water within the geothermal system filling with sediments, clogging strainers, and preventing the system from operating correctly. They stated they would like to have Vanderveer Plumbing test the water to see if it could be treated instead emptying the system completely and refilling it with new, treated water. No action was taken.
The Board discussed the repairs needed to the tiles in the women’s restroom located on the first floor of the Courthouse. Terry Britton, Building Custodian, has pulled nine loose tiles up and there are others surrounding them which need replaced. The Board discussed having someone come look to see if the same tiles could be used. No action was taken.
Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to approve the following purchase order claims for payment: 2025-2026: General 766, Gatlins Garage LLC, 73.20, Maintenance 767, Standley Systems, 226.07, Copier Lease 768, Oklahoma Natural Gas, 1080.23, Gas Service 769, AT&T, 217.06, Pots Lines 770, AT&T, 78.25, Internet Service 771, P2 Services, 65.00, Drug Testing 772, Professional Compliance Services LLC, 418.60, Drug Testing 773, Tisdal & O Hara, 5926.50, Legal Fees 774, Sentinel Leader LLC, 69.00, Publications 775, Tuff Fire & Safety Inc., 75.00, Inspection Fee 776, Russell Enterprises Inc, 52.00, Monitoring Services 777, Cordell Lumber Yard, 101.13, Supplies; Highway 941, Western Equipment, 2005.45, Repair Service 942, AT&T, 88.68, Internet Service 943, Rother Brothers Inc, 785.68, Parts 944, D&G Trash Hauling LLC, 102.75, Trash Service 945, Chisholm Broadband LLC, 60.00, Internet Service 946, Cordell Lumber Yard, 354.73, Supplies 947, Cherokee Trading Post, 165.00, Safety Supplies 948, Farmers Coop Bessie, 8423.82, Fuel & Supplies 949, Planters Cooperative Association, 9489.51, Fuel 950, Professional Compliance Services LLC, 405.00, Drug Testing; Assr Rev Fee 8, Cordell Beacon Co. Inc., 38.00, Annual Subscription; LEPC 5, Mikes Meats, 160.00, Supplies; SH Svc Fee 296, Russell Enterprises Inc, 1967.00, Maintenance 297, Perkins, Meredith Clair, 164.02, Travel 298, Western Technology Center, 385.00, Training 299, Amazon Capital Services, Inc, 316.50, Supplies 300, TCM Bank, 401.31, Travel 301, Farmers Coop Bessie, 2962.62, Fuel 302, United Supermarkets, 33.34, Supplies 303, Cordell Lumber Yard, 174.47, Supplies 304, Cordell Family Clinic, 360.00, Medical Services 305, Rozell, Kevin Mark, 95.70, Travel 306, Cordell Family Clinic, 850.00, Medical Services 307, Western Technology Center, 360.00, Training; CCSI 9, National Test Systems, 1800.00, Drug Testing Supplies; Extension- ST 62, Kristy D. Spalding, 674.43, Travel 63, Standley Systems, 468.30, Contract Services 64, Paige Brittain, 1637.71, Travel; Rural Fire-ST 41, Beck & Root Propane Co, 298.16, Propane; SR Cit-ST 65, Melton Janitor Supply, 79.98, Supplies 66, AT&T, 252.49, Phone Service; SH Funding Assistance Grant 54, Cordell Beacon Co. Inc., 38.00, Annual Subscription; Drug Court 47, Amazon Capital Services, Inc, 13.47, Supplies 48, Smartox, 440.00, Drug Testing Supplies 49, Reconnect Inc., 530.00, Service Fees 50, Amazon Capital Services, Inc, 79.98, Supplies; Family Drug Court 59, Skye Shephard-Wood PC, 750.00, Service Fees 60, Becky J Barney, 750.00, Service Fees Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
The Board proposed entering into executive session for the purpose of discussing the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of any salaried public officer or employee pursuant to 25 O.S. 301(B) (1) – Washita County Emergency Manager, Safety Director, and Floodplain Manager. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes. Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to enter into executive session at 9:20 a.m. for the purposed as stated above. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to reconvene into regular session at 9:47 a.m. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Greg Chandler, Chairman, handed the sealed minutes to Kristen Dowell, County Clerk, stating they had been taken and sealed. Dowell stated the sealed minutes would be stored with other county sealed minutes. No action was taken.
Kenneth Trent, Emergency Manager, submitted and read a letter of resignation with his last day of work being at the end of the day on February 5, 2026. The Board thanked Kenneth for his 13 years of service to Washita County. Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to accept the resignation. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
The Board discussed accepting applications for the open Emergency Manager position. The open position will be posted internally for current county employees to apply, February 9, 2026 – February 20, 2026. No action was taken.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to adjourn. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
GREG CHANDLER, CHAIRMAN BART GOSSEN, VICE-CHAIRMAN DAVID GRAY, MEMBER KRISTEN DOWELL, COUNTY CLERK Notice posted 01/30/2026