SBA Opens Disaster Assistance Center Following Recent Fires

The Small Business Administration has established a disaster assistance center at the Stillwater Community Center following recent fires that affected the area. The center offers low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses impacted by the disaster.

Kim Weatherby, public information officer with the SBA's Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, presented information about the assistance during Thursday's Payne County Commissioners meeting.

"We don't just help businesses in times of disaster, we also help homeowners and renters," Weatherby said. "Homeowners that were affected for their physical damage can apply for up to $500,000 for a low-interest loan."

Renters and homeowners can also apply for up to $100,000 to replace personal property, including vehicles damaged in the fires. Businesses with physical damage can apply for up to $2 million in low-interest loans, with rates around 4% fixed.

The SBA also offers economic injury disaster loans for businesses indirectly affected by the disaster.

"If a business was affected, not just physically, but really more economically if they're in an area that was directly impacted and now people aren't coming to their business or perhaps they were sharing a product or delivering a product to the area that was affected," Weatherby explained.

The disaster declaration covers eight counties, including Payne, Lincoln, and Pawnee, with contiguous counties eligible for economic injury disaster loans.

One significant benefit of the SBA disaster loan program is the payment deferral option.

"You don't have to make a payment for the first 12 months. There's no interest accrued during that 12 months," Weatherby said. "If you decide you didn't need it, give it back, only take partial and then they'll just refinance it to just the amount you needed. And there's no prepayment penalty."

The SBA disaster assistance center at the Stillwater Community Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center will remain open for approximately three weeks.

County Explores Building-Wide Internet Service Upgrade

The commissioners took no action on a service order agreement for internet service for the Treasurer's office between Chickasaw Telecommunications and the Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioner Seth Condley explained that the county is exploring a building-wide internet service upgrade instead of individual office solutions.

"We're going to table or take no action on this agreement because we have another one coming up," Condley said. "For the entire building is what we're looking at. So this building is going to have our own fiber link instead of sharing with others."

Condley indicated that a new proposal for building-wide internet service would likely be presented at next week's meeting.

County Treasurer Lee Denney emphasized the importance of reliable internet service for her office.

"The internet's very vital in our office. People pay their taxes online. It's very vital," Denney said.

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County Approves Bridge Projects with Iowa Tribe

The commissioners unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma for two bridge reconstruction projects. The agreement covers Bridge 10805 and Bridge 21645.

Under the agreement, the Iowa Tribe will prepare plans, specifications, and engineer's estimates for the projects. The tribe will also handle utility relocations, advertise for construction bids, and monitor the work.

Payne County will furnish rights-of-way and temporary construction easements through privately owned property. The tribe will prepare right-of-way documents and assist the county with the acquisition process.

The Iowa Tribe will seek funding through the Tribal Transportation Bridge Program to finance the construction. If federal funding is not received, the tribe will not be responsible for funding the construction of the bridges.

Upon completion, the county will accept full responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the roadway and bridges.

Election Board Staff to Receive Overtime Pay

Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-142, which continues overtime compensation for full-time Election Board staff when applicable, instead of comp time.

The resolution allows the Election Board to pay overtime to full-time staff when the board can charge an entity for their election. This does not apply to volunteers or part-time staff.

The terms of the resolution commence on July 1, 2025, and end on June 30, 2026. It will be renewed annually by resolution on or before the first day of July.

In other business commissioners also approved nine ingress-egress agreements for 56th Street from Western to Sangre. These agreements allow for sloping banks and making ditches as part of upcoming road work.