The first ever State of McClain County meeting that brought chambers of commerce from Blanchard, Newcastle and Purcell all together packed the Goldsby Community Center last Thursday.

After listening to county commissioners and the state auditor, the state of McClain County appears to be in great shape.

Congratulations to all of the McClain County employees for the yeoman’s work provided to the citizens of the county.

Commissioners Wilson Lyles and Glen Murray answered questions and told the audience a little bit about what being a county commissioner entails.

District 3 Commissioner Terry Daniel was unable to attend due to an illness in his family.

Lyles told the gathering of 144, the McClain County budget is slightly north of $14 million with the lion’s share going to the Sheriff’s Department, who’s budget is just over $5 million.

State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, who was the keynote speaker for the luncheon meeting, heaped high praise on McClain County’s employees.

“McClain County is an example for other counties in the state,” Byrd said.

“Some counties over spend their budgets but McClain County is not one of them,” Byrd continued.

“McClain County has a gift that all the elected officials work together. Not all counties do,” she said.

“Some county commissioners don’t even work together,” Byrd confirmed.

“Your county is one of the premier counties of the state,” Byrd said of the second fastest growing county in Oklahoma.

Only Canadian County is growing faster than McClain.

Lyles said, in his 17 years as county commissioner, the county has nearly doubled in size.

The latest figures show McClain County with a population of 50,396.

The county’s growth rate is 20.24 percent, right on the heels of Canadian County at 21.28 percent.

“McClain County citizens should just get ready because they (new residents) are coming,” Lyles said.

“This is where people want to be,” he concluded.