Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza has said time and time again there’s a great need for new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office — but funding could be on the way in the coming years.
The Houston County Commission voted to begin negotiating a contract with Waggoner Engineering with the hope of securing funding for the Sheriff’s Office.
Waggoner Engineering, represented at a previous meeting by former Secretary of State John Merrill, is a civil engineering company which aims to lobby within Congress to secure funding for local projects.
Some of Waggoner’s past projects include park design and development, sewer work, long range planning, roads and bridges, city development, and storm shelter work. They’ve also worked with law enforcement agencies around the country.
Waggoner works with members of Congress — in our case, that would be Rep. Barry Moore, Sen. Katie Britt and Sen. Tommy Tuberville — to find opportunities for funding. Waggoner helps localities put in applications and bids for resources to be submitted to legislators in Washington, D.C.
“When you have the members support an endorsement, it enhances your opportunity, and then they will work with their colleagues to have them embrace it and endorse it,” Merrill said.
Chairman Brandon Shoupe said the opportunity was exciting, as the commission hadn’t engaged with lobbyists outside of those in the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama.
He said the entirety of the commission’s ask would be for the Sheriff’s Office — namely, new vehicles.
“We have a very aged fleet,” he said.
That’s true — Major Bill Rafferty confirmed multiple vehicles had over 200 thousand miles, even after Valenza managed to bring in over $2 million worth of new vehicles.
Shoupe also said having Merrill in particular was helpful thanks to his knowledge.
“He knows what gets funded and how it all works up there (in Washington),” he said. “We need not only help opening doors, but we need help crafting a pitch, because this is not something we’ve ever done before, so we’re definitely new with this.”
Entering the contract would require pulling around $50,000 from the general fund, but Shoupe said he and the commission were ready to take the risk, as there is huge possibility for return on investment.
“We think the risk is worth the reward,” he said.
Furthermore, if Houston County does not receive the funding in the first year they submit their applications, Merrill and his team indicated he would help the next year for free.
Merrill said Waggoner helping secure resources for Houston County Sheriffs could be incredibly helpful.
“One of the things that we want to always remind our clients of is that the people in Washington and the people in Montgomery, just like the people in Dothan and the people in all municipalities in Houston County, they work for the people that elected them,” Merrill said. “So when we can be an advocate for our elected officials, to help them identify a project… it’s helpful, because we can do it in a structured and organized fashion that helps them have a concise message that is direct to that person.”
GENEVA COUNTY: 2:41 PM Geneva County 911 dispatched a structure fire at 21858 E. County Road 4. The emergency units dispatched Fadette Volunteer Fire, Malvern Volunteer Fire, Slocomb Fire – Rescue and Geneva County Sheriff Department.
At the time of dispatch responding emergency units were advised a grass fire had just started catching a neighbors trailer on fire.
Geneva County Road 4, this address, is about one mile west of the Geneva – Houston County line in the Southern Junction part of Houston County. It is in the far south-east corner of Geneva County, east of Highway 103 which runs from Slocomb to Graceville Florida.
When Fadette Volunteer Fire Chief Kyle Hovey arrived he instructed responding units to connect their engines to the Fadette Fire Engine and line up because water was possibly going to be an issue. Fadette Command requested mutual aid response from Rehobeth Fire – Rescue. Also responding was Taylor Volunteer Fire Chief.
On arrival of the first fire engine to the scene it was announced this was a working structure fire, two mobile home structures were on fire and it was an offensive attack. The fire grew quickly in the double wide structure and became a defensive fire attack until the heavy fire was knocked down.
Wiregrass Electric was requested. They advised a 30 minute response time. Wiregrass Electric is GREAT when requested. They are quick to respond and advises an estimated time of arrival. Alabama Power is perhaps the worst!
There was a tremendous response from all departments. Very few, Slocomb Fire – Rescue ( only a few ) and Rehobeth Fire – Rescue ( only a few ) are paid. The remaining responders fighting the fire are volunteers who give of their time, money and resources to serve the community.
The scene was under the command of Kyle Hovey who also serves as Fire Chief of Slocomb Fire – Rescue.
The young man who drowned was identified as 21-year-old Byron Burks, a graduate of Elba High School. He played varsity football and basketball.
The other young man has not been identified.
ORIGINAL:
COFFEE COUNTY – NEW BROCKTON: 5:13 PM Coffee County 911 dispatched a possible drowning at 19472 Highway 84 in New Brockton. At the time of dispatch the person reporting advised 911 two boys had gone fishing in the pond and they could be heard screaming.
The scene is very close to the Coffee County Sheriff Department. Units from the Sheriff Department, New Brockton Volunteer Fire Department, Enterprise Rescue responded. Then units from Enterprise and Elba responded.
Enterprise Rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene.
One young man was transported to the hospital. One young man is missing. Two of the rescue members who were the first on the scene had to be transported to the hospital for hypothermia.
Opp Rescue Dive Team was dispatched and on the scene. A underwater search/ recovery mission is currently underway.
Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd, members of Coffee County Sheriff Department, Members of Enterprise and Elba Police and Fire Departments are on the scene. Coffee – Pike County District Attorney James Tarbox is on the scene. Arnold Woodham wears many hats in Coffee County. He is Operations Manager of Enteprise Rescue, New Brockton Volunteer Fire Chief and Coffee County Coroner. He is on the scene. His intial response was in hopes to save a life. At this point it looks as his final mission will be as Coffee County Coroner.
Prayers are lifted for the families of the victims and all of the emergency personnel involved in the search and recovery mission. It is 40 degrees outside in Dothan so you can imagine the water temperature.
RSN has been monitoring the situation but waited until we knew the families of the two young boys were notified of the situation to post.
DOTHAN: 06:23 AM Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire at 1200 Bradley Street in Dothan. This address runs between Pleasant Road and Hedstrom Road.
It is 27 degrees.
As Dothan Fire Engine 4 (Southside) was responding, they reported heavy smoke visible from Prevatt and Ross Clark Circle.
Dothan 911 reported to units responding there was a 21 year old male on the scene with burns and cuts.
Dothan Fire Engine 4 (Southside) was the first engine on the scene. The fire engine company reported a working structure fire, smoke and flames visible. The paramedic immediately went to the injured while others on the crew began a offensive attack on the fire.
06:28 AM Battalion Chief Ash arrived and instructed incoming fire engine companies it was best to enter from Pleasant Road side. The patient was at the front door with Dothan Paramedics treating the patient. Chief Ash announced offensive mode of fire fighting.
06:30 AM Dothan Fire Engine Company 1 (Central) and Truck 1 (Central) arrived on the scene.
06:33 AM Dothan Fire Engine Company on offensive attack reported fire knock down and a interior search underway to make sure no one else was inside the residence.
06:34 AM Pilcher Ambulance was on the scene. The patient was loaded into the ambulance and transported emergency to a Dothan Hospital by Pilcher Ambulance and Dothan Fire Paramedics.
06:34 AM Dothan Fire Rehab truck is on the scene and sometime during the above timeline Dothan Fire Engine 5 (Eastside) had arrived on the scene. By this time RSN arrived and was live on FACEBOOK so do not have the times. Dothan Fire Deputy Fire Chief David Hasty arrived on the scene. Dothan Utilities arrived on the scene and by 7:00 AM the power had been cut from the residence.
06:44 AM Dothan Fire reported, after a primary and secondary search of the residence an all clear as to no one else found inside the residence.
07:05 AM Dothan Fire is still on a offensive attack and working the fire.
Dothan Fire changes shifts at 07:00 AM each morning. This call came in at 06:23 AM which was before shift change. The oncoming fireman will begin responding to the scene to relive the fireman on the scene and continue the firefighting, overhaul and clean up of the scene.
07:08 AM Battalion Chief Ash announced fire under control.
THANKFUL to United President Donald Trump for his working to terminate the employment of a lot of government bureaucrats who sit behind a desk and have no idea of reality. The wage and hour has investigated Dothan Fire and other fire departments. Fireman will arrive early, because some just naturally arrive early, and will place their gear on the fire engine and tell the one on duty they can get ready to leave. So like this fire call that came in at 06:23 AM and shift change at 7:00 AM, the fireman coming on would have responded. And was not officially on the clock. It is just something that has been done for centuries on. While not required to report and change early, just something some fireman have always done. The government bureaucrats who sit behind a desk and do not know the real world states they can not do this. And it is done voluntarily and not required. So Rickey Stokes supports United States President Donald Trump in his terminating these bureaucrats employment. We need a Trump-minded person in Alabama to fire over half of the bureaucrats also.
Sorry, had to add that because Dothan Fire Chief has been fighting this idiotic mentality of bureaucratic government thinking.
THANK YOU to all Dothan Fireman, Dothan Police, Dothan Utilities and Dothan 911 for your work and prompt response.
