Tag: County Commissioners

Video of the Commissioners on Fire Tax Question.

On Monday, December 31st, the Mayes County Commissioners met to discuss Chairman Yoder’s proposition to assess a $300 monthly “Dispatch Fee Tax” on the 12 fire departments served by Mayes County 911.

Click the following link to view the video, it’s about 11 minutes long.   http://youtu.be/dDKh22oOQ2Q

Under intense questioning by members of fire departments, Yoder disclosed the County 911 Center had a “net operating loss” of $500 monthly, or $6,000 annually. Why then was he asking for a tax to raise $43,200 annually, calling it a “Dispatch Tax” when it was to cover operations???

Commissioner Ryan Ball and Yoder got into a “lively” (some may call it heated) discussion. Ball again emphasized that the County should never have taken the Center away from MESTA! Those in the audience seemed to agree. Commissioner Kevin Whiteside didn’t have anything to say, and he usually doesn’t. We hope he will begin speaking up, but are afraid he just votes for anything that Yoder wants. So Sad, Too Bad.

It all ended up with the matter “Tabled” until Yoder could talk to the Fire Departments, and try to reach an agreement on something they could “live with”.  Don’t know when it will be on the Agenda again, but will keep you posted.

Next Monday Ryan Ball will assume the position as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. We know he will be a great leader, probably the best we have had in that position for years. We wish him well, and hope Commissioner Whiteside will follow his lead for better government here in Mayes County.

One final note, If  you view this site on a computer, as opposed to a cellphone, you will see on the right side a column with a “Follow” link. Click it, and enter your email address, and you will receive email updates when anything is new on the site.

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I wish you and yours a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year! I am always available to you on my cell, 918-373-4055.

County 911 Wants Fire Departments to Pay!!

MESTA Bus
MESTA Bus

The County Commissioners have an Agenda Item 9 for 9:30 am Monday, December 29th. It is entitled “Discussion and proposed action concerning approval of annual dispatch fee for Mayes 911 from Mayes Fire Departments”.

Could be the Commissioners didn’t really know what they were getting into when Darrell and Alva voted to take over the center from MESTA. Guess they thought that they were going to get rich over the tax money that comes in from our telephone bills. We think that may be decreasing because of loss of landlines in the County.

Still problems existing with the lack of training and experience of Ms. Pennywhatever’s dispatchers. We hear that they are still making a lot of fundamental mistakes. Wonder if she has sent any of them to the National Dispatcher Training and Certification Schools like Rich Langkamp did? Maybe she needs to tax the fire departments to get that done!

At the next MESTA Board Meeting, 5 pm Tuesday, January 13th, at the MESTA headquarters in the Industrial Park, the Board will consider moving their dispatchers out of the County 911 Building, into the MESTA building. A committee has been studying the problem for a couple of months. A number of dispatchers, and other MESTA employees have been interviewed, and their attorney Jim Orbison has been consulted. He initially recommended the study.

The Problem is, as I have been told is this: It is a very hostile work environment for the MESTA Dispatchers. It all started when Alva Martin came in the center, shortly after the County took it over, and was, as I am told, yelling, cussing, and screaming at everyone, including saying a few unkind words about me! The problem has continued with Ms. Pennywhatever giving bad instructions and advice to her dispatchers, and the MESTA folks having to keep their mouths shut. The County 911 Director has absolutely no experience as a 911 Dispatcher! Her experience is in preparing the 911 addresses. Wonder why the Commissioners hired a Director without a very necessary experience??

That’s about it for now. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you a Happy New Year.

On a side note, if you want to see some very beautiful pictures of international landmark sites, visit http://imgur.com/a/qtIIW?gallery . Just may be some places you want to place on your “Bucket List”.

As always, your can phone me anytime with questions or comments. My home phone is 918-825-1676, and my cell is 918-373-4055.

Be Safe!