By Daniel Lapham/Staff writer

Despite protests from employees, El Reno City Council last week changed the employee insurance provider from Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group to United Health Care.
Mayor Matt White said he understood concerns from the employee insurance committee. The committee was formed to present insurance options to all of the city’s 128 employees and get feedback from them.
All of the employees who spoke said their group wished to remain covered by OMAG.

By Rex Hogan/Staff writer

The El Reno School Board will select a member to serve the remaining term of Office 5 board member Basil Abouarrage.
Abouarrage announced earlier this month that he was moving to Yukon and would have to resign. He has less than two years remaining on his four-year term.
Board president Bob Lee said members have not discussed a replacement.
He said the appointment must be someone who lives in the Office 5 district which is in the northwest “corner of town.”

By Traci Chapman/Staff writer

Commissioners jump-started efforts to stall the “violations process” Monday, forming a seven-person study committee organized to address problems with the county jail.
Commissioners made the move after voters rejected a sales tax increase May 13 aimed at funding a new $24.8 million facility.
Oklahoma Department of Health inspectors visited the county jail May 5 and sent a notice of five violations to county commissioners May 14, the day after the failed election. Sheriff Lewis Hawkins said he and his staff are working to address the violations.