Jackson County Commissioners held their regular meeting on at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Commissioners’ Office in the Jackson County Courthouse. The minutes for the Sept. 14, Sept. 21, and Sept. 29 meetings , reports and blanket purchase orders were all approved.

The Jackson County Treasurer, Janet S. Wright introduced an item for consideration. This was the reinvestment or liquidation of a $500,000 certificate of deposit (CD) that was due on Sept. 30. With interest rates low everywhere right now, the commissioners voted to keep the money invested in a local bank, in a CD with an interest of rate of 1.1%. These funds are for the Sales Tax Revolving Fund.

Holly Grace Campbell, director of ACMI House was ill so Rick Crouch, public relations coordinator of Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, Inc. (SOCAG) was present to give information on the client-load of ACMI House. He said that ACMI house holds between 10-13 females and it is almost always full. Males in need of housing for domestic abuse are provided temporary housing in motel rooms. Domestic abuse, according to Crouch, is a much bigger problem than he thought it was.

In light of the serious nature of domestic violence, the commissioners approved a proclamation for “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” be recognized in October.

In another item for consideration, the commissioners heard from Karen Weaver, administrative director of the Jackson County Health Department. She presented information on the transfer of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) grant from the Community Action Group (SOCAG) to the Jackson County Health Department. Weaver asked the commissioners to sign an agreement to allow the transitional hiring of a new coordinator and one more positions for the program during an approximately one-month transition period.

Commissioner Dale Dunn asked why it was necessary to switch the grant from SOCAG to the Health Department. Weaver explained that it had to do with a smoking environment. Crouch explained that the TSET Coalition has changed the grant since it was written and they determine what’s on it. According to remarks from both Weaver and Crouch the coalition decided to relocate the tobacco program to align themselves with an agency that had a no smoking policy.

The commissioners approved the agreement with the Health Department and the transitional hiring during the transition period.

There were no vendor participation items or claims to approve.

A special meeting was held Sept. 29 with the Excise Tax Board. Minutes from that meeting were approved at Tuesday’s meeting.