The commissioners gave Charles “Chuck” Wyckoff, president of the Sequoyah County 9-1-1 board, permission to call for bids to install road signs, 500 of which are ready.
Wyckoff said Times Striping had agreed to install the 500 signs for $9,750.
He added, “It is my understanding they will also do the global positioning system (GPS) marking at each location too.”
The GPS will help emergency personnel find the location from which a distress call has been made.
But, Wyckoff explained, if a company is hired to install all the road signs, the cost would run higher that the amount allowed to be spent by the 9-1-1 board, and the commissioners will have to call for bids and approve contracts.
About the addressing, which is required by AT&T before that company will take over management of the database of locations, Wyckoff said the addressing has not been completed by the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD). He said AT&T would not take over the database until the mapping and addressing were 95 percent complete.
District 1 Commissioner Bruce Tabor noted that EODD has also agreed to help several other counties, including Muskogee County that has just approved 9-1-1 service, do addressing.
“I think we need to go as a group to EODD and let them know we want this (Sequoyah County addressing) before they do the other counties,” Tabor said.
Wyckoff also submitted an audit of the 9-1-1 system to the commissioners.
“Basically,” Wyckoff said, “the audit says we have no errors and we are doing the best we can with what we have.”
Wyckoff explained earlier that the 10 percent surcharge on residents’ telephone bills provided enough money for equipment, but not enough money for call-takers’ salaries. In a prepared statement Wyckoff pointed out that residents in the Sequoyah County 9-1-1 system pay a 10 percent landline tariff on their telephone basic rates, which is about $10 in Sallisaw and which costs about $1 a month. The rate differs with other telephone companies. Of that 10 percent, the telephone company is allowed to keep 2 percent. The rest is divided in half and 5 percent goes into the 9-1-1 general fund and 5 percent goes into the equipment fund. The equipment fund can only be used to purchase and maintain equipment. It cannot be used for salaries or labor, and the amount collected barely makes enough make to pay the 9-1-1 staff. Sequoyah County 9-1-1 also collects 50 cents per wireless telephone.
District 2 Commissioner Steve Carter said earlier that to change the disbursement design, it would have to go to a vote of the people.
“I really cannot say enough about our 9-1-1 staff,” Wyckoff concluded about those working the 9-1-1 system.
Sheriff reports
In other business, Sheriff Ron Lockhart told the commissioners he had found that the county had been receiving money each month since July 2007 for courthouse security, but that money, which averaged about $1,500 a month, had been commingled in other accounts. Based upon information he received from County Clerk Vicki Sawney and County Treasurer Tricia Yates, Lockhart said the amount received, but never used, for courthouse security was $29,484. He asked if he could set up a separate account for those funds, which came from court clerk filing fees. The commissioners said he could set up that account himself, but he could not transfer the original $29,282 out of the account in which it was deposited, which is set up for other purposes such as buying vehicles and salaries.
Carter explained that the money could not be transferred from one account to another, but did not explain why. He said a purchase order, or PO, could be written to move the money.
Lockhart said he needed to set up the account to be in compliance with state statutes. The commissioners recommended Lockhart discuss the issue with District Attorney Jerry Moore.
“Whatever he decides, we will go along with,” Tabor said.
Lockhart said he has also discussed and designed an intercom system between the jail and the courthouse for security purposes. He said the system will cost $5,684.96, which is less than $10,000 so that bids would not have to be called for, and could be set up in about a week.
Other reports
County Clerk Vicki Sawney has asked for an audit of her office, which she won from former County Clerk Donna Jamison. Sawney said some records and funds need to be accounted for. She noted that Jamison did pay the back taxes, about $73,000, which were owed to the Internal Revenue Service before she left office. But, Tabor said, the district attorney has asked that the request be tabled for review.
The commissioners also approved engineering claim forms for work done by Kelly Engineering of Tahlequah on bridges in the three county districts — at Prairie Creek and Wolf Creek in District 3; over Garrison Creek in District 1; and over Buzzard Roost Creek and Shiloh Creek in District 2.
During the Sequoyah County Criminal Justice Authority meeting, Christine Calbert, jail administrator, reported the jail had 93 incarcerated.
Emergency meeting
The commissioners called an emergency meeting Tuesday after the heating and air conditioning unit in one of the courtrooms and judge’s offices went out. Tabor explained that an emergency meeting could be called in such an instance. Sawney was directed to get quotes by telephone to repair or replace the unit as quickly as possible. She reported she had been able to obtain one quote, as of Tuesday morning, for $11,415.
The commissioners also declared a burn ban in the county, due to the lack of rain, which is causing a growing number of grass fires that are endangering buildings. Tabor explained that the county burn ban will be enforced under the same rules as a state burn ban. He added that the county can call for a burn ban for seven days. If the county receives no rain or the state doesn’t call for a burn ban, the commissioners can continue calling for seven-day burn ban until the danger lessens.
