The Jackson County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Nov. 16, at the Jackson County Courthouse. Following a call to order, approval of the Nov. 9 minutes, there were no reports or blanket purchase orders to be approved. Almost all the items discussed pertained to the new year, in one way or another.

The commissioners discussed their 6-month bid process for road and bridge materials and their tires and herbicides. Comparing lists and vendors, they approved sticking with the same vendors as they had the last 6-month period, with the exception of adding a vendor and adding some new loader tires to the list.

Southwest Oklahoma Development Agency (SWODA) sponsors a REAP (Rural Economic Action Plan) grant of $75,000 for community improvements. Jackson County is applying for this grant to pay for communication equipment for the Jackson County Rural Fire Association sites: Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Altus Police Dept., Duke Police Dept., Eldorado Police Dept., and the water tower east of Blair. The commissioners approved this application for equipment.

The commissioners and Court Clerk, Christy Hair discussed and presented their regular meeting dates for next year. Though the meetings are usually held on Mondays, there are many occasions, mostly due to holidays, when the commissioners will meet on alternative days.

Under new business, but not quite, since it was previously discussed, a Thanksgiving dinner for county employees was firmed up. It will be held Nov. 19.

The next items was definitely not new business, since the bid was awarded to M&M Wrecking at the last meeting, but a letter to proceed will be issued for M&M to get ready for the demolition of the old jail. Once the job is activated, they'll have 60 days to complete it. If there weren't some salvage involved, it would probably only take about a week. The commissioners have requested some granite and the old jail hardware be saved, so it will probably take about 3 weeks.

There were no public or vendor participation items, and all claims were approved. Shortly after the meeting was adjourned, Cary Carrell mentioned that packets with bids for the Federal Building should be turned in my Dec. 4. People or organizations having materials in the Federal Building need to make arrangements to get those items if they still want them.