Wind farm south of Altus vying with Snyder site 

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, due to the Monday Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday, the Jackson County Commissioners met. During the public participation section, they received an update from David Eyerly and Richard Harvey from the Wind Works Company. Wind Works is looking for a location to place 60 wind turbines. They have been evaluating their wind experiments for the last year, just south of Altus. Eyerly said they will be making the decision between the Altus location or one near Snyder around Feb. 15. The decision depends on many factors including access to electrical substations and transmission lines, wind levels, and zoning.

When the blade of the wind turbine, would be at it highest point, it would be at 300 feet high. The current height restriction for the location south of Altus is 150 feet in height, according to Eyerly. Wind Works will be meeting with Altus City Planning Director Barbara Burleson and possibly the Metropolitan Areas Planning Commission (MAPC) regarding zoning. If the Jackson County location is chosen, Wind Works will come back to announce the news to the commissioners.

The minutes from the Jan. 10 meeting were approved. There were no reports.

During the officers’ reports, Sheriff Roger Levick submitted the 2010 yearly report. County Treasurer Janet Wright gave the commissioners and officers the Nov. and Dec. 2010 tax collections compared to the 2009 figures. The 2009 Nov. and Dec. tax collections were $6,739,491.36. The 2010 tax collections for Nov. and Dec. totaled $6,487,518.72, down by $251,972.64. Also in officers’ reports, Commissioner Cary Carrell announced the County Commissioners’ Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. Donors will receive a free pair of fleece gloves. “Don’t forget to bring your photo ID,” Carrell said.

The District Attorney’s Office submitted blanket purchase orders for lab testing for $1,000.

The commissioners approved Resolution 2011-05 for determining the maximum monthly highway expenditures for the month of January as $1,061,693.76.

Resolution 2011-06 approved the State of Oklahoma Department of Transportation County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Project Agreement on project BRO-133D(105)CI/State job No. 26627(04). This is a creek bridge five miles south and 4.6 miles east of Altus.

Commissioners approved Gerald Sherrill Jr. and Allison Baker Smith as requisition officers for the Jackson County Assessor’s Office. Approved Receiving officers will be Allison Baker Smith and Ann Altom.

The funds that were temporarily transfered from two Sheriff’s Department funds to County General funds dated August 23, 2010, were repaid on Jan. 3 of this year, according to Wright. This was approved by the commissioners.

Commissioner Marty Clinton was appointed to the Southwest Rural Development Board, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC), and the Board of Health.

Cary Carrell volunteered to serve on the CED 7 as a representative of the commissioners.

Robert Preston and Gerald Sherrill Jr. were appointed to serve on the Jackson County Public Finance Authority through Dec. 31, 2013.

In new business, the last day for District 3’s Eric Springer will be Jan. 21. BancFirst sent copies of a suit to the commissioners. Ronald and Sheryl Willingham are suing the City of Altus and the commissioners over land in University Heights. Gary Strickland asked the commissioners to publicize the Fair Board elections. County Clerk Christi Hair will put out those advertisements for people to file by the last week of January.

There were no vendor participation items.

The commissioners approved all claims.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.