Innovative Thinking By Sheriff Donald Valenza

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
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Date: May 15 2019 1:45 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    When you travel as many miles as a law enforcement officer does that covers 567 square miles every day, accidents are just going to happen.

That is life.

A county government can not raise taxes like a municipality. In order to increase revenue it has to go through the Alabama Legislature. So increasing revenue is not possible often times.

The Houston County Commission has zero authority over the Sheriff. The Sheriff alone can hire, fire, suspend or discipline and the Houston County Commission has zero authority over the Sheriff in personnel. 

The Houston County Commission has complete control, total control, over the budget for all departments, including the Sheriff Department. Once the budget is approved the commission can only pay the invoices within the budget and not question the Sheriff.

In order to cut expenses within the Sheriff Department, Sheriff Donald Valenza uses the gifts each Deputy has. And some of the deputies have the gift or working on vehicles and mechanical knowledge.

Stuff Happens! A deputy wrecked the Tahoe. It has 160,000 miles on it but it still runs and drives good. A commercial repair would cost several thousands of dollars to repair the Tahoe. But with the gifts GOD bestowed on some of the deputies, they can repair the damage for less than $ 2,000.00.

This week Sgt. Trent Blair,  Corporal Ray Arnold, Sean Brodmerkel and Deputy Lee were working on the wrecked Tahoe to put it back on the road. Their work saves the Sheriff Department, which is ultimately the Houston County Commission, several thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Sgt. Blair, Cpl. Arnold, and Deputy Brodmerkel are assigned to maintain the Sheriff Fleet of equipment. A full time job changing blinker bulbs, emergency lighting equipment, vehicle skipping, computer stands, printers, and all equipment necessary to serve the citizens of Houston County and their guests.

Innovative thinking on the part of Sheriff Donald Valenza. You just have to "get out of the box" and THINK sometimes. Remember "who" you serve and work towards service of the people. Get your head out of the weeds and think.

Real simple!

 

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