Commissioners approve Cross Timbers consulting agreement for transportation work; table Olson Engineering pending contract corrections

Wagoner County commissioners on Jan. 21 considered two consulting agreements intended to support the county’s transportation program and related project work.

The board accepted a letter agreement with Cross Timbers Consulting LLC (owner Tom Edwards) to provide transportation program services, with cited rates of $145 per hour for engineering/project management and $105 per hour for planning and grant-writing work. Commissioner discussion described an estimated workload of about 40 hours a month under the proposal, roughly $6,000 monthly as presented on the record; the agreement lists a range of services including project programming, design, construction management, grant writing and coordination with state and regional agencies. Commissioner Hanning moved to approve the Cross Timbers agreement and to proceed without requiring planning-and-zoning review for that contract; Commissioner Stamps seconded. The roll call recorded Commissioner Kelly voting aye, Commissioner Hanning voting aye and Commissioner Haney/one commissioner recorded no; the motion passed 2-1.

A separate letter of agreement with Olson Engineering was discussed immediately afterward. County legal staff reviewed Olson’s draft and identified multiple items that required correction — including contract forum-selection language, indemnity clauses and dispute-resolution terms that would have applied Nebraska law and limited the county’s control over dispute procedure. The board voted to table the Olson Engineering item and instruct staff to obtain the requested corrections; the motion to table passed unanimously in the recorded roll call.

Several commissioners emphasized the need to avoid dependence on a single person for transportation work and suggested routing coordination through planning and zoning or the economic development director to ensure transparency and cross-departmental oversight. Legal staff advised that the Cross Timbers form was acceptable as presented; corrections to the Olson form were expected to be delivered to counsel before the board would reconsider that contract.

The Cross Timbers contract and Olson Engineering item were considered alongside personnel changes to the county engineering office; commissioners said the consulting agreements would help the county meet deadlines and maintain continuity on projects while staffing issues are resolved.