Being ready and recovery were major topics Monday at the Blaine County Commissioner’s meeting.
On the being ready side, the county inked agreements with the City of Weatherford to dispatch its fire departments and emergency medical services for the coming year. It also renewed its property and liability insurance contract with the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma. The annual premium on that coverage is $245,066.
Other discussions included an offer from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office to hold training on civilian response to an active attack scenario. Investigator Todd Davis said the training would be for employees of the county and the courthouse.
Statistically, the most likely situation for an active attack or active shooter is at a place of business, although those situations in schools and places of worship are most often highlighted by the media.
The upgrade on security cameras is still an ongoing discussion. Sheriff Travis Daugherty said he and several of his deputies were willing and able to install the new system themselves, saving an estimated $150,000. “It’s just an option,” he said. “We have the cable and the tools already.”
The cameras in hallways and entrances at the courthouse would be top priority. The antennas and co-ax cable at the jail have recently been replaced because of damage from a lightning strike. The elevator in the courthouse is also in need of repair because of damage from the same thunderstorm. Some phones will have to be replaced and others must be reprogrammed, the county clerk added.
In other business, the county is considering the purchase of a set of portable truck scales.
The set of scales is being surplussed by another county and available to Blaine County at a good price.They could be used to weigh commercial vehicles and ticket those who are overweight for county roads. The weight of the trucks, often oilfield traffic, is a large factor in road damage around the county.
Hopes are that some of the money generated by overweight tickets could be used to help pay for the repair of the damaged roads, but the sheriff said that might take a change at the state legislature in the way the funds are redistributed.