It’s been a wonderful year for us, even with my broken leg and almost a month in the rehab hospital. And Tracey with her mom at St. Johns for a 4 weeks, and just getting home December 18th.

Santa ? is arriving early, with some help from FedEx, and UPS.

We finally got our Christmas lights up. I hope you enjoy the video.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. We hope you have a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

One other thing to share, our new Christmas ? tree.

http://wp.me/p1TFIe-3vS

Happy Labor Day Weekend, keep safe!

Thought some might be interested in getting some cash using your artistic  ? skills. Visit the Locust Grove Arts website for details.

Not much happening on the local government side since Meredith Frailey took over Darrell Yoder’s seat as County Commissioner, and is doing an excellent job keeping Kevin Whiteside doing the right thing.

Source: In An Instant Art Show

Rick Langkamp fired as Executive Director without cause!

At the MESTA (Mayes Emergency Services Trust Authority) Board meeting on June 14, 2016, Dirty Politics reached a new low! Five of the Board members,  Trent Peper, Chairman, Rob Foreman, Sherman Weaver, Steve Hall, and Dr. Jason Joice,  who have special personal interests, not in the public interest, or the interests of MESTA, voted to terminate Rick Langkamp as Director of MESTA, without any cause being given. Board Members Larry Williams, Don Berger, Leon Blankenship, and Brent Crittenden voted against the motion to terminate.

Langkamp has served with distinction as Executive Director of MESTA since 2003. He has NEVER received a negative evaluation by the Board, nor any disciplinary action, nor instructed to accomplish any task which he has not done. No reasons were given for his termination, although information requested multiple times prior to the meeting.

He took over MESTA leadership when there was a terrible mess to clean up. It was losing money, equipment was in poor mechanical condition, employee training was not as it should be, and times taken for an ambulance response took longer than they should. Employee morale was at a low. Rick cleaned all of this mess up. MESTA began earning a profit, response times, morale, and training improved, and the public was well served.

This 5 to 4 vote has been in the planning stages for months, and is a result of Mayes County Commissioners Darrel Yoder, and Kevin Whiteside refusing since January to ratify two MESTA Board Members appointed by the City of Pryor, and the Town of Locust Grove. The 5 major towns in Mayes County are each permitted to appoint 1 member of the MESTA Board, and each of the 3 County Commissioners are allowed 2 appointments each, for a 11 member Board.  The Commissioners are required to confirm the appointments of the City/Town Board Members, but have refused to do so.

Pryor has twice submitted local civic leader and Realtor Harriet Dunham as its representative. She is a well respected member of this community, and has previously served with distinction as a MESTA Board Member. Two times, upon Motion by County Commissioner Ryan Ball, Yoder and Whiteside refused to second the motion, and it died.

Locust Grove has twice submitted the name of local CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Eric Sanford as its nominee, (January 4th and 14th)   and again a Motion by Ball died for lack of a second. Sanford then withdrew his name, and the Locust Grove Town Trustees submitted Jodi Dunham as its nominee. Jodi had previously served as a MESTA Board Member from 2000 to 2010. She served as a Certified EMT “Working Street Medic, and Training Medic” with Tulsa EMSA Ambulance Authority for 18 years from 1983 to 2001. Yoder and Whiteside wouldn’t confirm her as the Locust Grove representative! Why?? Dirty Politics!

Locust Grove on April 1, 2016, filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus to require the Board of County Commissioners to approve Jodi Dunham as its nominee. Case Number CJ-16-32 is still pending before Judge Terry McBride, with no scheduled hearings set.

Why was Langkamp Fired?

We believe itt all goes back to a matter of CONTROL by Yoder and Whiteside, and prior thereto Commissioner Alva Martin want control of the MESTA and its money, contrary to the provisions of the Trust.  The MESTA Trust Indenture  (click link to view Indenture)  recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Mayes County at Book 654 and Pages 46 and following specifically provides in Article X, Section 2 as follows:

“The Beneficiary, (Mayes County Commissioners) shall have no legal title, claim or right to the Trust Estate, its income, or to any part thereof, or to demand or require any partition or distribution thereof. Neither shall the Beneficiary have any authority, power or right whatsoever to do or transact any business for or on behalf of or binding upon the Trustees or upon the Trust Estate, nor the right to control or direct the actions of the trustees pertaining to the trust Estate, or any part thereof….” Emphasis added. 

Under Langkamp’s 18 years of service, MESTA upgraded its staff, stations, service response, and operated at a profit. It had over One Million Dollars Profits in reserved funds for future improvements and equipment purchases, and the Commissioners wanted it! They “Stacked” the MESTA Board to try to get it, and refused to appoint qualified Board members who would oppose their unlawful efforts.

Langkamp has filed an action in the District Court seeking to remove for cause, MESTA Board Members Peper, Weaver, and Joice, and seeking damages and other relief. We wish him well, as ALL informed citizens of our county should do.

Outrageous Attorney fees and billing practices:

We were shocked to recently learn that James Orbison, General Counsel for MESTA has through his firm, billed MESTA over $100,000 in attorney fees the past 12 months. His billing for the past month was about $13,000, and we are informed that about $10,000 of that amount was not documented or detailed, except to Mr. Peper, who was the Board Member who recommended hiring Orbison following the resignation of local attorney Fred Sordahl. The resignation was based on the refusal of Peper, and 5 other board member aligned with him and the Commissioners to follow legal advice, and engage in what Sordahl characterized as improper conduct by these members. These board members have been previously designated in this Blog, and called “The Fixit Six”! 

IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME VISITOR TO THIS BLOG, WE HOPE YOU WILL “FOLLOW” IT! If you view the site from a desktop, (not cell phone) in the upper right corner you will see a tab labeled “Follow” click it, add your email address, and you will receive an email when comments or new posts are made. 

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW, and share this information.

Had a great meeting this afternoon with Dave Giencke?, one of the owners of Rocklahoma?. He is going to write a letter to the “Fixit Six” on the MESTA Board to clarify his offer of land for a new MESTA Station.

Rick Langkamp?, his staff, and Don Berger, Board Member, have done an extensive study as to where MESTA needs to locate a new station. Rocklahoma fits their need, No strings, except getting construction underway, and use property as Ambulance station. FREE UTILITIES forever, and free land. Locating a new station there is in the best interests of ALL of the citizens of Mayes County.

MESTA Bus

The “Fixit Six” [5 of the original 6 are still on the Board] have always had an “Agenda” to serve special interests, and are not acting in the best interests of citizens of our county. If you know Board Member Dr. Stephen Joyce, Owner of Doc’s Gun Store, please contact him and urge him to blindly follow the “Fixit Six” and vote for the Rocklahoma station.

WE HOPE that all residents of Mayes County will attend the MESA Board Meeting next Tuesday at 5 pm at their headquarters in the Mid America Industrial Park, just behind the park headquarters, and show your support for locating a new station at Rocklahoma.

Call me at 918-373-4055 if you have any questions. I would love to see many of my friends at the meeting.  
.

“The Fixit Six” Are Back! I coined this term last year for the group of MESTA Board Members who voted special interests, and took actions which were not in the best interests of the Citizens of Mayes County at its March 10th. They are currently under investigation by the OSBI for alleged Open Meeting Act violations last year.

Well, they are back in full force, casting votes for special interests, and not making decisions in the best interests of MESTA, or the Public. One of the original six has left, and unfortunately, it appears that Dr. Jason Joice may have replaced him!

“The Fixit Six” voted a second time to have MESTA “Indemnify” them for costs and attorney fees arising out of the OSBI investigation of possible criminal action by them. We don’t think it’s a wise use of public funds!

A big controversy arose over a decision on whether or not to move the current MESTA station at Adair to a new station to be built at Rocklahoma. The current Adair station was built by volunteer fireman, without formal plans, inspections, or approval, as a temporary location for MESTA. It was leased for 5 years, which passed 2 years ago, and the cost of the station has been more than fully paid to Adair. Health problems exist there for employees, including mold, and rat infestation, which have gone unremedied.

Rocklahoma has offered to give MESTA land for a substation to be located there, and serve as general contractor there without charge, provide free utilities, and also provide a gift of over $30,000 cash to MESTA. Preliminary plans have included a “Safe Room” so in the event of disaster, Emergency Personnel would be able to respond after a tornado disaster. Total estimated cost to MESTA to build the station would be about $60,000.

MESTA Director Rick Langkamp, and Brandon Hawkins presented a detailed map and spreadsheet showing the number of “Runs” from the Adair station. In 2014 the Adair Unit responded to 926 calls. Of those calls, 669 were to areas South of the proposed Rocklahoma Station, and only 257 were North. In other words, about 2/3 of the Adair runs are to areas which could be reached about 4 minutes earlier than they have been in the past. On those 669 runs, the Ambulance drove past the Rocklahoma Intersection.

Sherman Weaver was vocal in throwing up “smokescreen questions” off subject, during the discussion. Dr. Joice questioned “What’s in it for Rocklahoma?”. Chamber Director Barbara Hawkins answered that question by saying: “Since inception of the park, they have given back over $1 million to our communities, as a part of their commitment and philosophy!”

Seldom in my over 40 years of attending public meetings have I seen more ignorant and partisan voting by those who have sworn to represent and protect the public!! Those voting NO were Dr. Jason Joice, Jamie Starling, Sherman Weaver, Trent Peper, and Rob Foreman. Adair Mayor Steve Hall abstained, which equals a no vote. It appears to me that they were voting FOR the Adair Fire Department not for the best interests of Mayes County and MESTA.

Voting YES were Chairman Brent Crittenden, Kaye Baldridge, Leon Blankenship, Don Berger, and Larry Williams. They understand their obligations and duties as Board members.

Such a shame that Commissioner Darrell Yoder, and former Commissioner Alva Martin have “Stacked the Board” for their personal agendas.

Please leave your comments, and invite friends to “Follow” this Blog. From a Desktop (not cell phone) in the upper right corner, click the “Follow” icon, add your email address, and you will be notified by email of new posts and comments.