(Published in the Tonkawa News, Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023)Kay County Commission Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 Newkirk, OklahomaThe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of Kay County, Oklahoma, met in regular session at 9:00 o’clock a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, the meeting was posted for public information on December 29, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the Commissioners Room, west entrance of the Kay County Administration Building in Newkirk, Oklahoma, and on the Kay County Website.Member Jason Shanks called the meeting to order: Commissioners: Shane Jones, Member. Others present were as follows: Brian Hermanson, Kay County District Attorney (DA); John Wilson, First Deputy Dist#3; Christy Kennedy, Kay County Treasurer; Janell Leaming, Kay County Assessor; Carol Leaming, Election Board Secretary; Dennis Bonewell, Emergency Management Director; Brenda Medlock, OSU Extension; Craig Stevenson, City Manager, Ponca City; Butch Herring, Ponca City Fire Chief; Claude Williams, Taxpayers for Transparency; Tammy Reese, Secretary/Kay County Clerk.Jason Shanks led the flag salute. Motion was made by Jones and seconded by Shanks approving the regular meeting minutes of December 19, 2022. Motion carried: Jones, aye; Shanks, aye.Motion was made by Jones and seconded by Shanks approving the Application for Financial Assistance/County Burial. Motion carried: Jones, aye; Shanks, aye.Motion was made by Shanks and seconded by Jones approving and selecting Shane Jones as the Chairman of the BOCC for 2023. Motion carried: Jones, aye; Shanks, aye.Motion was made by Jones and seconded by Shanks approving Jason Shanks to serve as a representative on the NODA Board of Trustees. Motion carried: Jones, aye; Shanks, aye.Regarding Ponca City’s request for a portion of rural fire/EMS sales tax: Craig Stevenson, City Manager of Ponca City, stated since the passing of the sales tax for the rural fire departments he would like to make a request for Ponca City to be a participating agency. Commissioner Shanks asked DA Hermanson if this was possible since the City of Ponca City came out against it. DA Hermanson said the law is silent about this, but said the language that was put forth for the voters is that this would go to participating fire departments/EMS. DA Hermanson said it is not defined whether the decision about participating must be made before the vote or after the vote. He said O.S. Title 68 does not provide a definition of what participation means. DA Hermanson said he has looked at discussions of the BOCC meetings prior to the ...
