Public safety #1

[rcjunkie]

RCJunkie it would appear that you and Mr. Couch have differing opinions on staffing issues and whether or not they are adequately funded. According to his statement in the last paragraph of his May 5, 2009 letter to the Council it looks as though the members of the OKC Fire Department aren't the only ones making the claim of underfunded staffing issues when he states;

"The recently approved Ambulance Service Membership
program will take effect in October 2009 and will reduce
the General Fund payment to the Emergency Medical
Services Authority (EMSA) by $3.3 million. A portion
of this funding has been used to balance the FY 2010
budget and the remainder, approximately $2.1 million,
will be set aside in a reserve to serve as a buffer against
the uncertainty that still exists within the economy. As
the economy begins to improve in future fiscal years,
this reserve can be used to fund increased services, such
as those identified in recent studies on Fire and Police
staffing.

That why I stated that it was MY OPINION, Mr. Couch is a grown man, more educated and knowledgeable than you or I, and as a Citizen of the US, he's free to make his OPINION.

Isn't it great to live in a free society where everyone has a voice and every voice counts.

[Mikemarsh51]

Andy157, isn't it funny how Junkie falls back to freedom of speech, it's my opinion. Everybody has a right to their opinion when you exposed him to be uninformed.

[rcjunkie]

Looking deeper into the budget I also see where in the F.D. the average employee makes $77,377. per year and the average P & R employee earns $71,109. It's true that a Firefighter will earn $6,268. more than someone in P & R, of course they have to work an extra 832 hours per year to do so. Really when you think about it, if the Firefighters worked 832 hours less like they do in P & R you would have to take out $7,488. in O.T. pay which would bring the average pay for a Firefighter down to $69,889. Just think if the City would put the Firefighters on a 40 hour week like Parks a person mowing grass would make more than a Firefighter. Hows that fair?

andy, you can stop by your local Walmart and pick up a cheap calculator for less than $5.00 (being that your so under paid, I'll buy you one if needed), the average park employee makes no where near $71,000. If you feel a new calculator isn't required, sharpen your your pencil or stop using that fuzzy math.

"check your budget, cut where you can, spend wisely"

[rcjunkie]

Andy157, isn't it funny how Junkie falls back to freedom of speech, it's my opinion. Everybody has a right to their opinion when you exposed him to be uninformed.

[Wambo36]

Well junkie, since you're armed with your wally-world cacultor, how much do they make?

[rcjunkie]

RCJunkie, I took your advice and looked at the budget. What I found makes me wonder why you complain so much about how expensive Firefighters are. Unless, you sly dog you, your complaining is just a tactic to divert attention away from your old department then I'm thinking Parks and Recreation with it's excessive employee cost may be the problem.

I compared the increases needed for FY/09-10 to fund the pay plan adjustments, step and merit raises, and the increased cost for employee health insurance. The Fire Department with it's 984 budgeted employees required a $1,955,400. increase, which averages out to $1,987.20 per employee. To cover those same increases the Parks and Recreation Department required $2,398.98 for each of it's 203 employees for a total of $486,993. There's your drain on the budget.

Is it a reading problem, comprehension problem. I have never complained about "how expensive FireFighters" are, all I have ever stated is that I feel the Fire Department is adequately funded.

Being that you mikey feel the need to make this a Firefighter vs. Park Employee discussion, the biggest difference is that you don't see or hear Park employees whining about need--need--need, we understand the budget/economy and make do with what we have. (especially during a campaign)

"look at the budget, cut where you can and spend wisely"

[rcjunkie]

Well junkie, since you're armed with your walmart cacultor, how much do they make?

Average is 52,000.

[Wambo36]

andy, you can stop by your local Walmart and pick up a cheap calculator for less than $5.00 (being that your so under paid, I'll buy you one if needed), the average park employee makes no where near $71,000. If you feel a new calculator isn't required, sharpen your your pencil or stop using that fuzzy math.

"check your budget, cut where you can, spend wisely"

Not talking about you. Talking about the statement above.

[rcjunkie]

Not talking about you. Talking about the statement above.

52,000 is the average salary per park dept. employee

[Mikemarsh51]

$52,000.00 to cut the grass, Dayum! No wonder none of them are complaining!!!!!

[rcjunkie]

$52,000.00 to cut the grass, Dayum! No wonder none of them are complaining!!!!!

I know, isn't life great, only in America.

They don't complain because we don't have the self driven ego or that want--want--want mentality.

[Mikemarsh51]

Junkie you are a funny man, I assume you are male. How many times did you apply for the fire dept? Ever get to the interview? I'm sorry you didn't get hired.

[rcjunkie]

andy, mike, wambo, it's been fun, I'm headed to Tenkiller for a few days, being that I made so much less then you firefighters, can I swing a loan, I need gas for my boat and fire wood for my cabin. Don't worry, I'm taking my laptop w/wireless INTERNET so I can keep you guys informed. If you have something I can't answer, I'll get a hold of Mick or Chief Marrs and get back with you.

"check the budget, cut where you can and spend wisely"

Remember, keep those big red trucks all bright and shiny, and don't forget to grease the pole!!

[rcjunkie]

Junkie you are a funny man, I assume you are male. How many times did you apply for the fire dept? Ever get to the interview? I'm sorry you didn't get hired.

Never applied, didn't have the qualifying ego and my arm wasn't long enough to pat myself on the back!

In reality, the thought did cross my mind, but because of nepotism clause, I couldn't. Don't ask who, if I told you, I'd have to kill you.

[Wambo36]

Never applied, didn't have the qualifying ego and my arm wasn't long enough to pat myself on the back!

In reality, the thought did cross my mind, but because of nepotism clause, I couldn't. Don't ask who, if I told you, I'd have to kill you.

There is no nepotism clause. Plenty of related folks. Wrong again. About that ego thing....ROFLMAO

[rcjunkie]

There is no nepotism clause. Plenty of related folks. Wrong again. About that ego thing....ROFLMAO

Shows how ignorant you are re: policy and chain of command, your forgiven.

If that's the case, why did a council member have to leave office so that her son could join the fire department !!!

[rcjunkie]

There is no nepotism clause. Plenty of related folks. Wrong again. About that ego thing....ROFLMAO

You can be related, as long as it's not a direct supervisor, which was the situation in my case. Wrong Again
Does constantly being wrong damage the ego ? Just asking.

[Wambo36]

Shows how ignorant you are re: policy and chain of command, your forgiven.

If that's the case, why did a council member have to leave office so that her son could join the fire department !!!

She left office because, as a councilperson, she had the ability to directly affect the policy and budget of the dept. he worked for. Are you saying your relative is a councilperson and that's why you didn't apply? Short of that there's no reason it should have stopped you.

By the way, please stop offering forgiveness that hasn't been asked for. It makes you look like an arrogant a$$. Well in your case it's one of the things that makes you look like an arrogant a$$.

[Wambo36]

You can be related, as long as it's not a direct supervisor, which was the situation in my case. Wrong Again
Does constantly being wrong damage the ego ? Just asking.

So you were going to hire on and be a direct supervisor of one of your relatives. How does that work? How could you know that before applying?

Or, you were going to hire on and be directly supervised by one of your relatives. Again, how does that work? It doesn't work that way. That's what the policy you cited prevents. It doesn't keep you from applying, or even working for the same department. It does keep you from being directly supervised by each other. You said it prevented you from applying. Why would it do that. How could you know before applying that your relative would be your direct supervisor? Please elaborate on that.

[rcjunkie]

So you were going to hire on and be a direct supervisor of one of your relatives. How does that work? How could you know that before applying?

Or, you were going to hire on and be directly supervised by one of your relatives. Again, how does that work? It doesn't work that way. That's what the policy you cited prevents. It doesn't keep you from applying, or even working for the same department. It does keep you from being directly supervised by each other. You said it prevented you from applying. Why would it do that. How could you know before applying that your relative would be your direct supervisor? Please elaborate on that.

If a relative is a Department Head. It's really not that hard to understand, it's in the policy and procedure handbook that Personnel issues, if you would like, I'll get a copy and send it to you.

[rcjunkie]

She left office because, as a councilperson, she had the ability to directly affect the policy and budget of the dept. he worked for. Are you saying your relative is a councilperson and that's why you didn't apply? Short of that there's no reason it should have stopped you.

By the way, please stop offering forgiveness that hasn't been asked for. It makes you look like an arrogant a$$. Well in your case it's one of the things that makes you look like an arrogant a$$.

This is what's known as the pot calling the kettle black!, and I think you meant ASS

Now go to work, shine those trucks and grease those poles or if your off work, the weather is nice, take a stroll through one of OKC's newer Parks, S. Lakes at SW 119th and Meridian or Route 66, at NW 23rd and Overholser Dr., you'll find them to be free of litter and nicely mowed.

Remember the Budget: check, cut, spend wisely

[rcjunkie]

$52,000.00 to cut the grass, Dayum! No wonder none of them are complaining!!!!!

It wasn't just cutting grass, it was much more involved and detailed then that, it was the highly sophisticated practice of making short grass out of tall grass.

Remember the Budget: check, cut, spend wisely

[Mikemarsh51]

Junkie, it looks like you have "bitter career face", I'm just saying.

[rcjunkie]

Junkie, it looks like you have "bitter career face", I'm just saying.

Not at all, I had a wonderful career, one that provided me and my family all the comforts we needed, and I'm thankfull that I was able to retire at a young age.

How about you, any plans on retiring soon ?

[andy157]

That why I stated that it was MY OPINION, Mr. Couch is a grown man, more educated and knowledgeable than you or I, and as a Citizen of the US, he's free to make his OPINION.

Isn't it great to live in a free society where everyone has a voice and every voice counts.

Hell yes this is a great society we live in where the 3 of us can form our personal opinions. What makes it much better still is the fact that we can base our opinions how ever we want, on what ever we want. What makes it even better still is, if we can find even one person willing to hear our opinions, with just a few exceptions, we can voice those opinions darn near anywhere we please. God Bless America.

However, in my opinion, with his ability to comprehend at a much higher level than you possess, it makes Mr. Couch's opinion an educated one based upon facts. Whereas your less educated opinion is nothing more than what it is. Which in my opinion is an uneducated opinion. And remember, a sharp mower blade, is a happy mower blade.