The Jackson County Commissioners held their regular Monday meeting on Aug. 27, at 10 a.m.

They approved minutes from last meeting on Aug. 20. There were no reports, Officers reports, or blanket purchase orders.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding possible action on the selection of project to be programed for 2017 CIRB funding. Those rather unanticipated funds of $2 million were available to be spent on at least one of the two projects proposed. Those projects were the Navajo School Road improvement and the Ridgecrest-Market Road improvement.

Both projects have been deemed important and worthy of completion, according to Commissioner Cary Carrell. District 1 has received most of the funding available in the past years, with the completion of the new Martha Bridge and funding already dedicated to the Navajo School Road past improvements and its future resurfacing. But, Marty Clinton, Commissioner chair pointed out that if the Martha Bridge hadn’t been destroyed, it wouldn’t have been replaced.

The Ridgecrest project is years in the making, waiting on Federal funding. This project will be completed through a consortium of the City of Altus, Jackson County, and several businesses that depend on those roads. Carrell was for the moneys being directed to the Ridgecrest project. Clinton was for the completion of the Navajo School Road project. Commissioner Anthony Fixico was ill last week when the projects were discussed, so the commissioners waited another week to include him. After hearing about 45 minutes of discussion, Fixico made the motion to spend the $2 million on completing the Navajo School Road with the remainder of funds from that project to go to the Ridgecrest project.

The commissioners approved a Commissioners’ Sale by Jackson County Treasurer Renee Howard on property acquired at resale. A vacant lot at 310 N. Hightower sold for $850.

Howard also gave the commissioners the Disaster Preparedness Plan to be implemented in the event of bank failure. “Jackson County uses First National Bank and NBC Bank and both,” Howard said, “have good credit.”

There was no new business and the claims were approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.