In a recent meeting, the Wagner County Board of Commissioners addressed two significant agenda items, including a right of entry agreement for driveway grading and a substantial settlement agreement related to a lawsuit.

The board first discussed a motion to approve right of entry agreements for driveway grading correction work associated with state project 29395 at 100 and First Street. The motion was made by Commissioner Kelly and seconded by Commissioner Henning, receiving unanimous approval from the board members present.

The second major item involved the adoption of Resolution 2024-089, which pertains to the settlement of the lawsuit titled Sharon Dalton, as personal representative of the estate of Angela Liggins, versus Chris Elliott, the sheriff of Wagner County. The resolution outlines a settlement agreement where the county will pay $13,000,000 as part of a total settlement amount of $27,000,000, which will be reduced by payments from the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma Self-Insured Group (ATCO SIG). The ATCO SIG has agreed to cover the policy limits, amounting to $483,156.70.

The resolution also stipulates that the settlement will not admit liability on the part of the defendants and allows for the payment to be made over an extended period, with the schedule to be determined with financial advisers. Notably, post-judgment interest on the settlement will not begin to accrue until January 1, 2025, at a rate determined by federal law.

The board unanimously approved the resolution, marking a significant step in resolving the legal matter while managing the county's financial obligations.