Cason Fire Department members continue department after fire chief dies

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
 
An item on the April 14 agenda regarding the Cason Volunteer Fire Department and withholding funds until the department reorganized was not approved by the Morris County Commissioners Court. Cason Fire Chief Jimmy Wardlow died April 5. Keys to the fire department had been turned in to the Morris County Judge.
Four Cason residents attended the meeting to represent the fire department with Jerry Ragsdell as the spokesperson.
“Whatever we need, we want to get it going,” Mr. Ragsdell said. “Four of the members came up and there may be others show up. We just have to ask them.”
Commissioner Gary Camp said they needed to get the signature card at the bank changed.
“You have to have a meeting and record the minutes making a decision within the fire department,” he said. “Then you present those minutes to the bank.”
Mr. Ragsdell said there are people who want to participate and residents wanted to get the fire department back up and running.
Commissioner Dennis Allen said the check is still at the courthouse for the fire department.
“Pending your reorganization, the keys will be released,” Mr. Allen said.
“It sounds like they are reorganized,” Mr. Camp said. “They already have members. If you have any questions, I suggest you talk to the folks at Jenkins. They give us the most comprehensive fire report of any department.”
Mr. Allen said he did not understand what the county’s jurisdiction was over the fire department.
“I would suggest that you get a charter and some bylaws and get it started,” Mr. Allen said. “I am glad someone is willing to step up and keep it going. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know.”
A memorandum of understanding between the Morris County Commissioners and the Bureau of Land Management of the Oklahoma Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office Southern Plains Regional office was not approved.
“From what I have read, I would think the county should not participate in this,” Mr. Lilley said. “Someone would be a representative from Morris County to participate in this land management. I don’t see where Morris County would be involved in this.”
In other business, the commissioners approved on going out for bids and allowing Med Shop Pharmacy in Hughes Springs to act as the interim inmate prescription provider. B2TF Pharmacy in Linden withdrew from providing inmate services and asked if Med Shop could take over for them.
“We usually do this in the fall, but since they quit early, my suggestion was to go for bids now and have it for 16 months until it coincides with the fiscal year,” County Auditor Shanna Solomon said.
The commissioners approved a computer upgrade for an Odyssey software project. This will cost $29,900 and it replaces 25 computers.