By Michael Kinney
The Moore American
August 11, 2008 03:56 pm
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Cleveland County Commissioners struck five bid openings from consideration Monday, during the board’s weekly meeting.
The bids included the purchases of communications equipment, purchases of a Duress Alarm System and purchases and installation of a fuel access control equipment system.
David Batton, the board’s attorney, said because the county is without an elected sheriff, any extra funds spent by the sheriff’s department could result in a felony charge for the interim sheriff or commissioners.
Sheriff DeWayne Beggs resigned earlier this year and commissioners appointed former Norman Police Chief Don Holyfield to the post. He serves as interim sheriff and did not file for election.
According to state law, “all orders for the allowance of money from the county treasury shall state on what account and to whom the allowance is made...Any county commissioner or person who knowingly or willfully fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a felony.”
Batton said he will have to go through a line by line audit with the state auditor in order to get the special allowances authorized. But until, except for request under $10,000, transactions will be disallowed.
“If we spend 50 cents they do not approve, we could be in trouble,” Batton said. “If the auditor says you can't spend or we will write you up, then we won't spend.”
Batton advised the commissioners to table all sheriff’s department bid openings until he could meet with the state auditor. The board decided to strike the bids and reopen the process after meeting with state auditors.
All bids remained closed and were returned to the vendors. Two of the bids were tabled from last week’s meeting.
The two bids that were not struck were both approved. A county bid for a six-month non-encumbered contract to provide asphalt material was approved. The board also approved a revision to the five-year plan for the use of county roads, bridges and federal bridge replacement funds.
Commissioners approved several renewal service agreement. They included Cox Business Service, Summit Mailing and shipping Systems, INC., and Absolute Transcription, L.L.C.
Approval was also carried for Interlocal agreements between the Board of County Commissioners and the City of Norman, Moore, Lexington and Slaughterville. The agreements run through June 30, 2009.
The board also approved the jail service agreement between the board and the city of Norman, The City of Norman agreed to pay $35 for each person per day until June 30, 2009.
Captain Ed Miller with the sheriff’s department reported an average of 192 prisoners in custody the week of July 29 to Aug. 5. He said this is the second consecutive week the numbers have increased.
Last week the average was 189 and it was 180 two weeks ago. Book-ins for the week were down two from the same week in 2007. A total of 181 prisoners were booked, one inmate was transported to the Department of Corrections Aug. 1 and 13 were taken Aug. 8.
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