9 hrs ago
After the Board of Cleveland County Commissioners approved receipt of the first half of its American Rescue Plan Act funds Thursday, commissioners are preparing to host community meetings for feedback on how to spend it.
During a special meeting Thursday, the BOCC approved $27,583,195 in ARPA money as cash fund appropriations.
Norman Resident Cynthia Rogers asked the board if it intended to hold public meetings.
Chair Darry Stacy told The Transcript the county hired Melissa Houston of 929 Strategies, who has recommended several public meetings to explore possible uses for the funds. The deadline for the BOCC to turn in its expenditure plan to the U.S. Department of the Treasury is Aug. 31.
County Commissioners planning for $55 million in aid normantranscript.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from normantranscript.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Police Body Camera Acreenshot
Norman Police Officers Kyle Canaan and Daniel Brown interact with Marconia Kessee, a 34-year-old homeless man. Kessee was found in a jail cell two hours after Canaan and Brown dragged him to a police car and arrested him for trespassing at Norman Regional Hospital.
A screenshot from one of two Cleveland County jail surveillance videos at the Cleveland County Sheriffâs Office.
Cleveland County Commissioners met in executive session Monday to discuss an ongoing lawsuit filed by the family of Marconia Kessee, a Black man who died in January 2017 at the county jail.
Commissioners met for nearly an hour, but took no action following the session. Federal court records show depositions of expert witnesses began Monday, with at least a dozen more scheduled through the end of May.
Apr 12, 2021
The old Vista building, now called he âFinancial Services Centerâ at 111 N. Peters Ave., above, is under contract to be bought by the county following a 2-1 vote on Monday. Kyle Phillips / The Transcript
The Cleveland County Commissioners voted 2-1 to enter into a contract to purchase the entire Financial Services Center building for $7.3 million during their Monday meeting.
The motion increased the proposed contract purchase price from $7.2 to $7.3 million. The move comes after the commissioners voted 2-1 to purchase two floors of the same building for $1.8 on March 22.
As part of the commissionersâ motion on the contract, District 3 Commissioner Harold Haralson designated attorney Sean Rieger to act as the commissionersâ spokesman, excusing Haralson and Chairman Darry Stacy from speaking to The Transcript about the purchase.
Feb 26, 2021
Cleveland County Christmas Store Executive Director Justin Davis stocks the shelves at the store. Kyle Phillips / The Transcript
The Christmas Store of Cleveland County has helped people in times of need and hardship throughout its time in the county, but now the store is facing its own challenge: finding a home.
Over the past 50 years, the store has relocated due to overhead costs and long term expenses, the store said in a press release. Most recently, the store was gifted a space at 641 E. Robinson by the Cleveland County Commissioners, is now looking for a more permanent home.
âItâs very time-consuming for our volunteers and disruptive to our clients. Weâve appreciated the countyâs help with this for the past 13 years. Now our hope is to find an affordable location for the long term,â said Justin Davis, who leads the storeâs all-volunteer, nonprofit team.