Logan County BOCC votes to leave CED 5

The Logan County Board of County Commissioners recently voted to send a letter to Circuit Engineering District (CED) No. 5 stating they will not renew their participation with the current CED.

The action took place on April 30 during a regular scheduled commissioner meeting.

A CED is a statutory board enacted in 1992 and is deemed a political subdivision of the state. Eight distinct areas/boards serve the counties within the state. The state is divided into eight geographical areas. Logan County currently belongs to CED No. 5 with Payne, Oklahoma, Canadian, Cleveland, McLain and Garvin counties.

A primary responsibility of a CED is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in developing and managing the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) 5-year construction plan.  

District 1 Logan County Commissioner Marven Goodman brought the proposal to the board and shared the statues pertaining to the CED and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). He shared that the CED does not offer the best option for the county. He added the authority of the CED does not get to determine what the CIRB budget for the county is each year.

Goodman reminded the commissioners that they maintain over 1260 road miles, 2500 miles of ditches with culverts and drains and over 200 bridges (with many being structurally deficient) in the county.

“None of that matters when it comes to CIRB funding,” Goodman said because CIRB funding cannot be used for that sort of maintenance. He went on to say that CIRB funds are given to the Transportation Divisions which is divided among the counties in the division.

Goodman said that he would like to see Logan County seek another like-minded county (or counties) to create a new CED district (CED No. 9). “We would manage our own money, our own funds and come to some understanding on how this is supposed to be done.”

District 3 Logan County Commissioner Monty Piearcy asked Goodman, “Do you have another county in mind to joining up with?” Goodman said he is speaking with a few other counties who are interested, but that very few counties will publicly state their willingness to leave.

“If we take the initiative to move forward, I believe we will find a like-minded county that wants to join us,” Goodman told Piearcy.

District 2 Logan County Commissioner Kody Ellis asked how not renewing would affect the County’s 5-year plan?

Goodman responded, “It won’t. Our board comes up with our 5-year plan and if we are not a member of the CED how in the world can a CED affect our 5-year plan.”

A question was asked on the possibility of losing funding by leaving the current CED.

Goodman said there is a cash fund and in previous years the county was given $100,000 or more. But, with the hiring of an engineering firm at $7,000 per month, the county received $40,000 this year.

“Yes we did get $40,000 this year, but I look for next year not to get anything,” Goodman said.

Piearcy responded, “I am a little reserved because the $40,000 is better than nothing, but on the other hand they are smoking through their money.”

Goodman believes there is some risk in leaving, but there is a reward by finding other counties to join Logan County.

“In the long run, I believe this will be the best for the county,” Goodman said. “In the short term, we might catch some flak over it, but Logan County is on the tip of the spear in a lot of areas.”

Goodman told the commissioners there is a sixty-day window to notify the CED of withdrawal, but within that sixty-days if it is decided to reconsider leaving the CED the notice could be withdrawn.

The commissioners voted 3-0 to not renew with CED No. 5.