Sequoyah County Commissioners approved an increased salary cap for courthouse employees and took action on other business matters conducted at last Monday’s regular meeting.

Commissioners approved to raise the salary cap from $3,000 to $3,200 a month for the first deputy salaries; and from $2,700 to $2,900 a month for the second deputies.

As to all other employees of courthouse elected officials, all other referenced employees shall make up to $2,600 a month, according to a resolution.

“The salaries of each abovementioned employee, deputy, is to be set within said limitations of the discretion of the supervising elected official. Exception will include the sheriff’s department, jail and all road crews, who work more than eight to four schedules and are subject to call 24 hours a day and often have to work outside in dangerous conditions,” the resolution states.

The resolution falls under the Sequoyah County Employee Compensation Policy and Employee Exemption. “We’re just glad we’re in a position to do this for the employees,” Jim Rogers, District 3 Commissioner said. “It just shows our elected officials are doing a good job on managing their money and making sure we can have the money to increase salaries for these employees. They deserve this.”

Another item which included a discussion before gaining approval from the commissioners was to pay for services provided by Apprentice Information Systems on behalf of the Sequoyah County Assessor’s Office. The item was approved in the amount of $10,478.

According to Brandy Dobbs, Sequoyah County Assessor, the annual contract includes protection of files for the office and for all work stations. Dobbs said all files must have back up for the last five years.

Commissioners also approved inter-local agreements for several schools in the county including Marble City, Gore, Vian and Sallisaw.

Also approved was a county utility relocation agreement with the Town of Muldrow, Sequoyah County RWD #7 in District 1. The item was approved at last week’s meeting but since District 1 Commissioner Ray Watts was absent from the meeting, the document required his signature. Also approved for District 1 was a utility and encroachment affidavit.

New business included a discussion and approval of a standard form in regards to assurances submitted by the Sequoyah County Emergency Management Office.

Jonathan Teague, deputy director for the office, said due to a new federal law, all CDL drivers must register with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) drug Clearinghouse which is an online database that gives employers, the FMCSA, the State Driver Licensing Agencies and Stated law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit holders drug and alcohol program violations.

Since it is a computer-based issue, Teague said he has been helping the commissioners from each district to get all county CDL drivers registered and be in compliance.

“It’s been very trying to get any information when I call,” Teague said. “The county has had trouble logging in. I don’t have the passwords and normally it’s not a big deal, but I’m afraid to mess up on it because it would revert me back to the bottom of the list, or get issued a new number and start all over again.”

According to the website pertaining to the law, on Jan. 6, 2020, the FMCSA launched the FMCSA Clearinghouse, an online database where CDL driver drug and alcohol testing violations and return-to-duty information will be stored and searched.

The final rule requires and states “Employers must query the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees’ drug and alcohol violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads.”

“It’s so if a driver who might have been fired, say from Arkansas, can’t come into Oklahoma and apply for such work as driving a school bus, as an example, which is a good deal and it’s a matter of public safety, but just getting on the data base has been the problem,” Teague said.

Commissioners said they would ask the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s or Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s office to look into getting help with the issue.

Other items approved under new business included approval to pay last year’s purchase order for the Sequoyah County Jail with the FY 2023-24 funds.