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First Town Hall Meeting Draws Crowd

Nearly 50 people attended a recent Town Hall meeting in Pryor, hosted by OPEA on Tuesday evening.

 

Ken Burrow from the GRDA Chapter organized the event, which was held at J.L’s Barbeque.

 

“We had a great turnout,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley.  “Eight different agencies were represented, with most questions dealing with the state’s budget shortfall.”

 

Current board members attending, in addition to Burrow, were Rita Heath from ODOT, and Christy Biggs from Veterans.  Biggs also used the event as an opportunity to campaign for the District 9 board seat.  Burrow is her opponent.

 

Among the agencies represented were GRDA: Tourism; Health; DHS; ODOT; Veterans; OESC.  State retirees were also represented.

 


Posted on Wed, January 13, 2010 by Mark Beutler

2 comments (Add your own)

1. lisa wrote:
WHAT I SEE IS CONFUSING.... WE WANT TO FURLOUGH THE WORKERS FOR A TOTAL OF 10 DAYS...THOSE WHO MAKE MORE MONEY ARE GETTING 12 DAYS....2 TIERS? WARDENS AND DW WHO LIVE ON STATE PROPERTY DON'T PAY RENT/WATER/GAS/ELECTRIC/MAINTENANCE/ CABLE & PROPERTY TAXES IN ADDITION, HAVE A CAR IN WHICH WE(STATE) PAY GAS, MAINTENANCE AND CAR PAYMENTS...SO...WHAT WE ARE DOING IS HURTING THOSE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE REAL BILLS. DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE WARDEN & DW WOULD KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO REALLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THE BASIC NEEDS JUST TO GET TO WORK? IT SEEMS RATHER UNFAIR TO THE SMALLER WORKER WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE A TOP HEAVY SYSTEM.

Thu, January 14, 2010 @ 8:19 AM

2. DOC for over 2 decades wrote:
Amen, Lisa,,,,,,,,, A furlough day to a Warden or Assistant Director or any of those other numberous high paying top heavy positions is not even close to the effect for a line working case manager, Sgt, Sec. position. I thought it was said from the directors office that he would bring back all private bed offenders before furloughing any DOC employees!!!!!!!!! Maybe that was not said but maybe it should have been!!!!!!! We are working our butts off while private prison keeps taking money out of state and not helping the situation at all,,,, just look at what happened to mental health!!!!!!! Legislators,,, wake up and smell what you are shoveling!!!!!!! How many furlough days are you going to take!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I have the answer....... zero!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thu, January 14, 2010 @ 6:13 PM

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