Ivester to D.O.C.: Where’s the Contract?

contract-681x442

August 4, 2020

By News Director Jared Atha

Where’s the contract?

That’s the question one Elk City leader is asking state officials, and he’s not happy with the response.

During the regular meeting of the Elk City Commissioner’s Monday night, Interim City Manager Tom Ivester let the commission know that the city still does not have a signed contract from the Department of Corrections regarding the agreement made between the city and the D.O.C. back in June that would see the city utilize nine inmates for various work around the city.

The commission needed to approve a contract on their end by the end of the fiscal year. The commission met in special session on June 26 to hear from department heads on how many inmates they would need on a daily basis. It was determined that the city would utilize nine inmates, a much lower and cheaper option for the city when compared to using as many as 50 inmates – something the city has done in the past.