Pittsburg County approves application for DEQ environmental officer grant

Pittsburg County commissioners voted Dec. 29 to approve submission of a FY27 Environmental Officer grant application to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality seeking $30,000 to support a part‑time environmental officer position, cleanup equipment and reimbursable cleanup costs, Sheriff Frankie McClendon said.

The application, which McClendon explained to the board, requests $30,000 and lists an overall county budget projection of $43,000 for the program (wages and operating costs). DEQ grants reimburse eligible expenses only after a fully executed agreement and purchase order; the agency requires monthly invoices, photos and metric tracking, and final invoices must be submitted by Aug. 31, 2027. The DEQ will not reimburse buildings, vehicles, laptops or drones, and it caps reimbursement for equipment purchases at 80% for items costing $5,000–$50,000, the application materials state.

Why it matters: county law enforcement applicants use the DEQ Environmental Officer grant to investigate illegal dumping and support cleanup operations in unincorporated areas. The application notes the county’s high‑use recreational areas and several identified dump sites around local lakes as part of its justification.

Commission action and procedure: Chairman Charlie Rogers moved to approve the application; Vice‑Chair Ross Selman seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously (AYE: Rogers, Selman, Haynes). The commission will have signatory authority on any resulting DEQ agreement unless DEQ requires alternate signatories.

Next steps: If the grant is awarded, the county must register in the Oklahoma Supplier Portal, execute a formal Agreement and Purchase Order with DEQ before spending funds intended for reimbursement, and submit the required monthly documentation to receive reimbursements within DEQ’s payment timelines.