Alva Review-Courier -

National 4-H Week is declared each year to recognize youths and the impact they have on their community, and on Monday morning, Alfalfa County commissioners did just that. Student 4-H president Taryn Miller was on hand with the county officials (Jay Hague, Stan Tucker and Marvin Woodall) to hand in a proclamation for this year's National 4-H Week (Oct. 6-12). Hague read the proclamation aloud and followed with a motion for its acceptance that the other two men endorsed.

Usual items of business were handled: maintenance and operation warrants for payment, monthly officer reports, monthly highway expenditures, and blanket purchase orders were all approved, as well as the allocation of the alcohol beverage tax. There were no road crossings for the week. Commissioners moved on to review and sign off on an endorsement form for Woodall's District 3 for the Oklahoma Federal Land Access Program proposed project he's been working on.

Next, Alfalfa County Sheriff Rick Wallace handed county officials paperwork with quotes for the purchase of a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe and equipment from John Vance Fleet Services. The Tahoe, with additions like four-wheel drive, OnStar, and extra keys and remotes, was quoted by John Vance Fleet Services for $35,699. For customizing the vehicle, Quality Custom Upfitters out of Stillwater estimated $22,311.22 for all parts and labor. The commissioners approved the purchase.

Lease purchase agreements for four 2020 Mack tractors for districts 1 and 2 (each) were approved and signed also.

The commissioners discussed lease-purchase receiving and requisitioning officers for the districts before hearing from Shana Smallwood-Hague, Alfalfa County's emergency management director. Smallwood-Hague has been working on an updated evacuation plan for the courthouse since the one in place has long been outdated.

Lastly, the agenda called for action on employee health insurance. Commissioners, over the last couple of weeks, were mulling over possibly switching from HealthChoice to a new health insurance carrier (OPEH&W Insurance), but decided to leave the insurance as is (with HealthChoice). Nothing will change, Hague said, except for a premium increase of about $25 per employee. Before the meeting closed, the resolution for setting the employee health care premium amount to be paid by the county for 2020 was approved.