The audit of Sequoyah County 9-1-1 was presented to county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday.
Charles "Chuck" Wyckoff, member of the Sequoyah County 9-1-1 board, said the audit showed "We're doing everything we should."
The audit has one recommendation, Wyckoff said, which is to use a computer budget program. Wyckoff said the 9-1-1 system, which covers central and western Sequoyah County, is undergoing a computer upgrade and, when the upgrade is complete, the system will have a budget program.
Wyckoff also reported the 9-1-1 board is working with officials with the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD), based in Muskogee, on collecting cell phone fees to enhance cell phone calls to 9-1-1 systems. The 50-cent fee was approved Dec. 13 by voters.
"We're about four months away from collecting the fees," Wyckoff reported, explaining the EODD will collect the fees from the many cell phone companies that service the county, then distribute the money to the two 9-1-1 systems which cover the county.
EODD is also helping Sequoyah County 9-1-1 map and address the county, a necessary step before the transfer of the 9-1-1 data is turned over to Southwestern Bell Corp. "We are working in the Paradise Hills area now," Wyckoff reported.
Paradise Hills is near Lake Tenkiller, northwest of Vian.
Wyckoff was also re-appointed to the 9-1-1 board by the county commissioners. He will serve a three-year term. Other board members are Larry Vinson of Central and Dana Tracey of Gore. The board members serve three-year terms, which are staggered with a board member appointed or re-appointed each year.
Maurice White, an emergency medical technician, reported to the commissioners that he has requested Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater do a study on emergency medical service and transport in the county. The OSU study is expected to be completed by mid January, when it will be presented to the commissioners.
The study is the first step in a proposal for a publicly-owned and operated ambulance service.
District 1 Commissioner Bruce Tabor said the commissioners also approved payment for the final plans of a bridge on Czarnikow Creek, on a dirt road northeast of Roland. Kelly Engineering, the county's engineer, designed the plan.
The commissioners also approved encumbering the money and other plans for a new bridge over a creek southwest of Vian. The bridge was closed earlier due to its unsafe condition.
The commissioners approved funding for a third deputy clerk in the court clerk's office. Tabor explained that the state will pay the deputy's salary for six months, when the county will take over the deputy's salary. "The state paying for the deputy saves the county about $13,700," Tabor said.
The commissioners approved transferring a portion of their budgeted salaries to pay for county insurance. Tabor said the $70,198 transferred will make next year's first insurance payment, which is due Jan. 31. Although the county budget has $150,000 designated for the three county commissioners' salaries the commissioners can take their salaries from road funds instead, and may use the $150,000 for other county needs.
They also approved transferring $25,238 from the same salary fund to help pay for the court clerk's salaries for December. "That leaves about $18,000" in the commissioners' salary fund, Tabor said.
The commissioners tabled a transfer of funds to pay for the cell phone fee election. Tabor said Sequoyah County 9-1-1 will pay for a portion of the election, which was held Dec. 13. A half-cent sales tax to expand Carl Albert State College Sequoyah County Campus in Sallisaw was on the same ballot, and also approved. The college will also help pay for that election.
