Now on the 16th day of March 2026, the County Commissioners in and for Washita County met in regular session with Chairman Chandler calling the meeting to order.
Chairman Chandler asked Kristen Dowell, County Clerk, for roll call. Roll call was answered by Gossen, present; Gray, present; Chandler, present.
Prayer was led by Chairman Chandler. The Board reviewed the minutes of the March 9, 2026 regular meeting. Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to approve the minutes as presented. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to approve the blanket purchase orders as filed in the County Clerk’s Office. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gray seconded by Gossen to not issue a burn ban at this time. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes. The Board discussed the scheduling order filed March 9, 2026 in the Washita County Court Clerk’s Office for Case No. CV-2025-65: Washita County Assessor v. Washita County Excise Board and Washita County Commissioners. The pretrial conference date is July 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. The trial is estimated to last 3-4 days with the list of witnesses, exhibits, and dispositive motions to be filed by June 1, 2026. No action was taken.
The Board discussed the funding of attorney fees related to the above-mentioned case, from the general fund, for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 and for fiscal year 2027. Kristen Dowell, County Clerk, reported that the Clerk’s office has issued payments totaling a little over $24,000 to the attorney for the Boards and there is a little over $5,000 left on the purchase order currently being used for payment of services. Dowell expressed the need for the issuance of another purchase order due to $5,000 most likely not being enough to cover the attorney fees for the months of March, April, May, and June and requested the Board decide which account to use to fund the services. Dowell also reported that there is $16,159.93 remaining in the FY26 budget of the General Government accounts of which $14,518.46 is designated for personal services such as paying the vacation hours of employees who are retiring, unemployment claims, and any other costs incurred outside of regular payroll for employees who are paid from the general fund with the remaining $1,641.47 designated for maintenance & operations of the Courthouse, Activity Center, and OSU Extension center. The Board also reviewed the FY26 budget of the General Sales Tax Accounts in the amount of $412,136.89: $212,136.89 to be used for the jail payroll in the event that the housing of other counties’ inmates does not generate enough money for the remainder of the fiscal year and $200,000.00 to be used for the OSU Extension Center building. The Board discussed not being able to risk having enough funds for payroll for jail for the remainder of the fiscal year, having to push back the OSU Extension building project again, and that funds would have to be included in the FY27 budget for attorney fees since the case is extending into the new fiscal year. Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to approve the issuance of a purchase order for attorney fees in the amount of $20,000.00 from the General Sales Tax Account. Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
Motion made by Gossen seconded by Gray to approve the following claims for payment: 2025-2026: General 881, AT&T Mobility, 152.20, Internet Service 882, TouchTone Communications, 47.54, Phone Service 883, Alliance Business Services, 1198.82, Phone Service 884, AT&T, 77.81, Internet Service; Highway 1130, U. S. Post Office, 106.00, Annual Box Rental 1131, Dolese Bros. Co., 19189.60, Rock 1132, OSU Ag Conferences, 480.00, OKVMA Registration 1133, Kimball Midwest, 345.20, Safety Supplies 1134, TouchTone Communications, 81.93, Phone Service 1135, OSU Ag Conferences, 15.00, Registration Fees 1136, Chandler, Greg S., 148.63, Travel 1137, Assn. Of Co. Comm. Of Okla., 165.00, Registration Fees 1138, OSU Ag Conferences, 160.00, Registration Fees 1139, OSU Ag onferences, 30.00, Registration Fees 1140, Gray, David Wayne, 134.76, Travel 1141, Service Oklahoma, 38.00, Registration Fees 1142, Oklahoma Natural Gas, 112.25, Gas Service 1143, Oklahoma Natural Gas, 283.21, Gas Service 1144, Windstream, 172.87, Utilities 1145, Windstream, 324.06, Phone Service; Assr Rev Fee 10, Culligan Of Clinton, 17.50, Bottled Water; SH Commissary 37, U. S. Post Office, 78.00, Supplies; SH Svc Fee 397, Cordell Memorial Hospital, 1375.88, Medical Services 398, Alliance Business Services, 948.98, Phone Service 399, Warnke’s Wrecker Service, 271.92, Service 400, Amazon Capital Services, Inc, 126.27, Supplies 401, Amazon Capital Services, Inc, 143.99, Supplies 402, ITouch Biometrics, LLC, 1980.00, Maintenance Agreement 403, Bob Barker Company Inc., 59.10, Supplies 404, Rozell, Kevin Mark, 145.00, Travel 405, Culligan Of Clinton, 223.00, Supplies 406, P2 Services, 250.00, Drug Testing 407, Melton Janitor Supply, 884.91, Janitorial Supplies 408, Cordell Family Clinic, 250.00, Medical Services 409, Days Pest Control Inc., 225.00, Pest Control 410, Evetts Drug, 168.38, Medication 411, Bob Barker Company Inc., 586.06, Supplies 412, Garrett Electronic Inc, 2300.00, Maintenance 413, Oklahoma Natural Gas, 897.77, Gas Service; Amb Svc Dist-ST 33, The EMS Training School D/B/A School Of EMS, 4250.00, Tuition; Extension-ST 74, Culligan, 17.50, Bottled Water 75, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, 45.07, Internet Service 76, TouchTone Communications, 100.40, Phone Service 77, Standley Systems, 605.64, Contract Services; Fair-ST 15, Tres Rios Silver, 872.90, Supplies 16, Sunnybrook Photo Company LLC, 564.00, Service; Rural Fire-ST 54, J L Electric Inc., 7026.07, Service 55, Wall Bin Hoppers LLC, 13300.00, Concrete; SR Cit-ST 84, CompSource Mutual, 304.75, Insurance Premium 85, U.S. Foods, 1469.60, Food 86, Walker’s Plumbing, 444.45, Repair Service; SH Funding Assistance Grant 81, Gatlins Garage LLC, 224.95, Service 82, McKinsey Ford, 861.22, Maintenance 83, Lipscomb Chevrolet GMC LLC, 1182.71, Repair Service 84, Western Oklahoma Tire & Service Inc., 619.16, Maintenance 85, Ambassador Lock & Key LLC, 225.00, Service 86, Western Oklahoma Tire & Service Inc., 804.92, Maintenance 87, McKinsey Ford, 964.86, Maintenance 88, Kellpro Inc., 16167.98, Equipment 89, Special OPS Uniform Inc., 284.97, Uniforms Gossen, yes; Gray, yes; Chandler, yes.
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 03/13/2026