Walton County Commission agrees to pay for 911 system

[Alicia Leonard]

EOC offered to include the SO in that grant but at the time they had the funds to pay, is my understanding from EOC and the WCSO. When the equipment was ordered, I was told that they believed it would be installed and completed before the end of the budget year. The system had to be built and the installation went into the next budget year. They would not pay until completed and then they had to return the funds before completion.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I don't know why the Sheriff refused to go after the grant. My guess is, grants take time, and he wanted the equipment ASAP and had the funds budgeted. After hearing Sheriff Johnson speak last night, it may also be due to the fact that he is a terrible speaker. I felt like I was in 3rd grade remedial English class while listening to him.

I will add that IMO, the Sheriff lacks balls enough to stand up to the BCC, or either he is just too angry to speak without getting his blood pressure boiling. He was fairly GWBush-like last night, as someone else mentioned. The Sheriff should have came before the BCC a few months ago at the mtg in Defuniak. He was no-show for that meeting. Instead, he pushed it off, ended up hiring a lawyer and an accountant (at tax payers' expense) to speak for him.

 

[seagrovegirl]

This was a national grant to update emergency systems that came about because of the threat of terrorism. It is a matching grant....so maybe the $$ requested is part of the match, but I would like to know if he used the grant and if not, why? It would have saved a lot of money for the county. I don't get it? Do you? Don't you want to know why? If anyone out there has answers, please fill me in. The Sheriff may have a good reason but I wish he would speak up to erase any doubt.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Sheriff Johnson did not use a grant. He was paying cash.

I've yet to hear the Sheriff speak up on much of anything. His Office has done a terrible job with handling money. Don't hold your breath -- just vote for a better candidate.

 

[seagrovegirl]

Sheriff Johnson did not use a grant. He was paying cash.

I've yet to hear the Sheriff speak up on much of anything. His Office has done a terrible job with handling money. Don't hold your breath -- just vote for a better candidate.

I would say "Walton Co. was paying cash.":angry:

 

[Here4Good]

I don't understand exactly what Comm. Meadows meant by:

She then asked that a study be conducted to determine how much money had been spent - including time, attorney's fees and travel to Tallahassee - on what she called a "politically motivated witch hunt."

Is she saying that the commission should not have stood their ground against the Sheriff, that in the interest of expediency they should have just approved the first request, or that it was wrong to take back the unused funds in the first place, or what?

 

[John R]

so, was our money spent on old 911 technology gear, or ramping up our system for forthcoming NG 911 gear?

http://www.govtech.com/dc/103428
http://mrtmag.com/news/ng_911_change_061207/

knowing the way this guy operates, i think i answered my own question...