Walton County Commission agrees to pay for 911 system

[Alicia Leonard]

SANTA ROSA BEACH - After more than an hour of discussion, Walton County commissioners voted Tuesday to restore more than $311,000 to the Sheriff's Office's budget to pay for a new 911 system.
"It's very important for the citizens in Walton County," Sheriff Ralph Johnson said after the hearing. "We needed the new equipment. It's a no-brainer. Take politics out of public safety."
Several people spoke in support of the sheriff's position during the hearing, including several residents, a certified public accountant and attorney Matthew Burns.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/county_9297___article.html/money_office.html



Sheriff Johnson Says He's Ready for the Check
http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/24086114.html

 

[idlewind]

What a complete disaster for the taxpayers of Walton County.

 

[Smiling JOe]

During Tuesday's hearing, Commissioner Cindy Meadows made a motion to adopt the budget amendment to reinstate the funds.


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."

She also suggested that whatever amount was spent on an issue she said "should have been settled long ago" be reimbursed to the taxpayers.

That motion failed.

This statement makes it sound as though the bold text was part of the motion, and I am pretty sure it was not. I believe that came up in discussion after Comm. Meadows' first motion for approval of the funds failed due to lack of a Second.

 

[The Watcher]

Agree

What a complete disaster for the taxpayers of Walton County.

This entire situation is an example as to why we need new leadership, on all levels.

I find it interesting that Meadows made the motion. ;-)

 

[scooterbug44]

Quick question - am I to understand that I and other taxpayers had to fork over another $311K not to mention the expense of all the nonsense because the Sheriff turned down grant money?

 

[Andy A]

Quick answer. No

 

[Smiling JOe]

Andy, you were taking good notes up there on the front row.

Scooter, the slightly longer answer is:

Sheriff ordered $311,000 worth of 911 equipment in 2007.
(I'll leave out the details of capital expenses over $200,000)

Sheriff's contract stated that Motorola wouldn't be paid until equipment was installed.

Sheriff's 2007 budget included enough funds to pay for equipment.

Equipment wasn't installed until 2008, but by law, any unused funds given to the Sheriff, must be returned to the general funds of the County at the end of the year.

Sheriff Johnson didn't know this or simply didn't care about returning unused funds. (based on his comments last night about if he had it to do over again, he wouldn't have returned the money, I'd say he is just stubborn.)

WalCo Financial Mgr (who attempted to run for Sheriff), caught the unreturned funds and the Sheriff returned the funds, or at least most of them.

So, the County is still sitting on the money which was allocated for the Sheriff last year, but budgets are use or lose.

Motorola wants their money for the installed equipment, and they still hold title to the equipment until funds are paid.

In summary, the money was there, then moved into a different drawer, and locked away from the Sheriff. Now, it is worked out and the funds will be released to pay Motorola. From what I understand, all of this hoopla was strictly political.

 

[Andy A]

Thanks, SJ. I couldn't have been near that thorough. I'm not a good note taker anymore.

 

[scooterbug44]

What was the grant nonsense? Am I just confused that a grant was involved?

What a waste of time and resources regardless!

 

[seagrovegirl]

There was a grant available to Walton Co. that other emergency services shared in......why didn't the Sheriff participate in this grant???