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Nov. 22--POTEAU -- The LeFlore County Commission on Monday unanimously approved a 99-year lease between the county and the Haw Creek Fire Association, clearing the way for the firefighters to apply for grants.
Commission Chairman Lance Smith said the volunteer rural firefighters association needed the lease agreement to qualify to apply for REAP or Rural Economic Action Plan grants.
County Clerk Kelli Ford said the District Attorney's Office reviewed the agreement and "is fine with it."
According to Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma literature, the Oklahoma Legislature created the REAP program in 1996 to make funds available to regional economic development districts to fund projects in communities with populations of less than 7,000. The regional economic development districts oversee the grant application process.
According to the Oklahoma Commerce Department, eligible projects include fire protection, water and sewer, streets, housing demolition, senior citizen centers, gas and electrical systems improvements, handicap access and storm water drainage improvements. For 2011, the state made about $1.5 million available for the grants.
According to KEDDO, which oversees the process in its seven-county area, in 2011 the county and Latham-Dog Creek Volunteer Fire Department jointly received a $6,670 REAP grant for fire equipment, and the county and Fanshawe Volunteer Fire Department received a $12,680 REAP grant for bunker gear.
In other business, the commission approved holidays and 14 days off for county employees in 2012.
The commission opted not to include New Year's Day as it falls on a Sunday, and the holiday schedule already has 14 holiday closings on it.
Smith said the commission previously tried to keep the list to 12 or 13 days off, but 2012 is an election year, which bumped the number upward.
