The Oklahoma State Capital

GUTHRIE, OKLA -- It was a changing of the guard during the Logan County commissioners' brief first-of-the-year meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting marked the first for new District 2 Commissioner Floyd Coffman of Guthrie, who defeated incumbent Charlie Meadows during last year's Republican primary and runoff.

As is their tradition, the commissioners' first order of business was the election of a board chairman. Sharpton, who held the title throughout 2024, initially entered a motion to preserve the current system, with Sharpton as chairman and Piercy as vice chairman. However, he then asked Piercy if he would like to take on the chairman role. Piercy expressed his willingness, prompting Sharpton to enter a second motion, this time to appoint Piercy to the position. Sharpton’s motion was seconded by Coffman.

In other action, commissioners received an update on the ongoing DHS building project. The building, currently under renovation, is part of the county's plan to relocate several county offices from the courthouse and courthouse annex to the Division Street DHS building. The project’s total cost is expected to be around $5 million, paid for with federal COVID-era funds.

Craig Yaden of Timberlake Construction, who is overseeing the project, told commissioners that it is on schedule for completion in July. Yaden reported that phase one demolition of the interior is ongoing, with ceilings removed and walls torn down.

Yaden told commissioners that a calculation error had been discovered and the projects cost has been reduced by $200,000. Yaden didn't provide specific details as to what led to the error, nor was he asked about them by the commissioners who expressed little curiosity in how the mistake had occurred.

Before adjourning, the commissioners conducted their annual inspection of the county jail.

Coffman, the new commissioner, spoke only briefly during the meeting. Sharpton encouraged Yaden to provide Coffman with a tour of the DHS building project.

The project has been supported by Sharpton, who dismissed the concerns of those advocating for using the COVID funds on roads instead of the DHS building purchase and renovation as "grumblings."

The question of whether the funds should be allocated to roads or office relocation was not significantly addressed during last year's District 2 campaign. Meadows, whom Coffman defeated, had been a proponent of the plan, but Coffman’s stance is unclear. It’s also uncertain whether Coffman could reverse the expenditure, as bids have been let and the county is believed to have already spent more than $2 million on the project.

MORE: Sharpton dismisses grumblings of road paving advocates.

Marven Goodman Encourages Use of Starlink

Former Logan County District 1 Commissioner and publisher of The Sooner Sentinel, Marven Goodman provided the commissioners with a special presentation regarding emergency management technology. Goodman referenced his experience as an official in the Oklahoma National Guard during the 1995 Murrah Building bombing, when cell towers became overloaded, and he described the potential for natural disasters, such as tornadoes, to cause similar disruptions. He encouraged the commissioners to consider deploying Starlink technology as part of the county's emergency management program. The technology recently provided pivotal internet access to communities affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

The commissioners are expected to meet again in mid-January.