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Commissioners reject $1,000 corporate grant to emergency management, redirect funds to EMS Council
Summary
Sullivan County commissioners unanimously rejected acceptance of a $1,000 unsolicited grant from the Williams Companies Foundation through the Tulsa Community Foundation for county emergency management after Commissioner Brian Hoffman raised concerns about required recognition creating a perception of favoritism; the board agreed to redirect the funds to the Sullivan County Emergency Medical Services Council.
Commissioner Brian Hoffman raised ethics concerns about accepting a $1,000 unsolicited donation from the Williams Companies Foundation through the Tulsa Community Foundation that would have been designated for Sullivan County Emergency Management.
Hoffman read a prepared statement saying, “This agreement offers a private company's unsolicited donation to a government body. It is fair to appropriately scrutinize the agreement's conditions. An unknown component of this agreement is what constitutes 'Usual and customary recognition...' to the donor, which is a requirement should we accept the agreement.” He added that accepting funds for “general operating support” could create a perception of favoritism and erode public trust in the board's impartiality.
After discussion and an attempt by the mover and seconder to amend the intended use to direct the funds to the Sullivan County Emergency Medical Services Council, the original motion was withdrawn. Commissioner Scott D. Myers then moved to reject the grant agreement for general operating support with the intent to redirect the $1,000 directly to the Sullivan County Emergency Medical Services Council; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Brian Hoffman and unanimously approved.
The board did not vote on any language binding the county to a specific form of recognition for the donor; instead it chose rejection of the county acceptance with an intent to have the funds provided directly to the EMS Council under the donor’s agreement. The action leaves the county with no ongoing obligations tied to the grant acceptance by Sullivan County Emergency Management.
