Commissioners Declare 911 Dispatchers Week

Tiffany Harrell, holding proclamation, represented Sequoyah County dispatchers 

at Monday's commissioners' meeting.

The Board of Sequoyah County Commissioners declared this week National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation Week at their meeting Monday.

Every year during the second week of April, 911 dispatchers around the United States are honored for their lifelong dedication to serving the public.

Dispatchers are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Sequoyah County dispatcher Tiffany Harrell said, and most people don’t realize that. “When the pandemic started, we didn’t get time off. When bad weather hit, we still had to work.” Dispatchers “do a lot more than just sit in a chair,” she said, “and we don’t get recognition as much as we should.”

District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers agreed with Harrell’s statement, saying, “It’s not an easy job, and we appreciate everything you do.” District 2 Commissioner Beau Burlison added, “I know it’s a thankless job, but you are much appreciated around here.”

In other business, the commissioners:

*Approved a lease-purchase agreement between the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and Welch State Bank for a 2021 Chevy Silverado

*Approved transfers from the VOCA Lease-Purchase account to the Sheriff’s Service Fee account and the VOCA Personal Service account to the Sheriff’s Service Fee account

*Approved the Sequoyah County Assessor’s Office’s five-year exemption reimbursement from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for the 2020 tax year

*Approved, on contingency of the district attorney’s approval, payment to Assessor Kelly Miller for accrued paid time off

*Declared as surplus 16 Galls duty vests by the Sheriff’s Office.

 Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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