Commissioners to Keep Courthouse Closed to Public Until April 30

The Sequoyah County Board of Commissioners called a special meeting Tuesday to announce that the limited public access policy at the Sequoyah County Courthouse will continue through April 30.

Meeting by teleconference, commissioners Ray Watts (Dist. 1), Steve Carter (Dist. 2) and Jim Rogers (Dist. 3) unanimously decided to extend the date because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,524 positive coronavirus cases in the Sooner State, including 10 cases in Sequoyah County. Two people have died of the virus in Sequoyah County.

Rogers said the commissioners’ decision to extend the date was to abide by the state’s recent announcement urging Oklahoma’s county courthouses to close to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We are abiding by the state’s decision to keep everyone safe,” Rogers said.

“We’re taking all precautionary measures and currently no one from the county (offices and barns) that I know of is showing any signs of the virus. We will continue to keep the doors locked and many of the offices have just a few people coming in. At the county barns, we are working with split crews and some are working from home.”

Rogers said the issue will be addressed again around April 30 and the public will be informed of any changes.

During the meeting, Sequoyah County Emergency Management Director Steve Rutherford urged residents to stay vigilant in fighting the virus. “We need to be cautious and keep everybody safe and just do what we’re supposed to ... stay home and practice social distancing,” he said, noting that he has asked the State Emergency Management Agency for 1,000 masks for firefighters and medics.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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