Thursday, January 17, 2008

EL Defenzor.net: First and Foremost Homero Villarreal is My Friend.

Like Big John Mc Carthy says, "Let's Get It On"

If one disputes any claim by all means welcome to the show and put it (your dispute or objection) in writing. We run from nobody.

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside
There behind a glass stands a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass,.move along, move along

Come inside, the show's about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you'll get your money's worth
The greatest show in Heaven, Hell or Earth
You've got to see the show, it's a dynamo
You've got to see the show, it's rock and roll, oh

1 comment:

Jaime Kenedeño said...

Issue: 36 wrecks in 15 months
The solution: driving school for employees

By Jaime Powell (Contact)
Originally published 04:43 a.m., June 5, 2008
Updated 04:43 a.m., June 5, 2008

In a span of 15 months, Nueces County employees have been involved in 36 wrecks driving county vehicles, which will result in mandatory remedial driver training for some employees and defensive driving classes for all who drive for the county.

Within the next 90 days, Nueces County expects to have a program in place that will teach defensive driving to any employee who drives a county vehicle. Employees who have wrecked a county vehicle will be required to take a more comprehensive remedial drivers' training course offered by the county in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety.

"The reduction in accidents is a safety issue, an economic issue and it's a productivity issue," County Judge Loyd Neal said at Wednesday's Commissioners Court meeting, where the policy was discussed. "We want our drivers trained and we want them acting in a very prudent manner while they are conducting our business."

In 2007, 17 of the 26 accidents involving county employees on local roadways were the employees' fault, Nueces County Risk Manager Servando Caballero said. Fifteen of the 26 incidents involved sheriff's deputies or constables, 11 of which were judged to be the fault of the county employee, Caballero said.

During the first quarter of 2008, there were an additional 10 wrecks, Caballero said. Six of those were found to be the fault of the county employee.

The accidents have resulted in the loss of six vehicles at an estimated cost of $132,000 during the past 15 months, Caballero said. In 2007, the county also paid an additional $48,000 in vehicle repairs related to accidents.

Caballero said he did not know how many employees would have to take the driving classes, which he expects to cost the county about $5,000.

"The percentage (of accidents) is heavily weighted toward law enforcement, but the number of miles driven is also heavily weighted toward law enforcement," Neal said. "We believe and the sheriff believes that we need to train and constantly remind law enforcement officers of their duties and responsibilities while they are conducting their activities and safety is a primary concern of this Commissioners Court and the sheriff."

Sheriff's deputies will begin driver training as soon as a month from now, Sheriff Jim Kaelin said.

"The most dangerous thing that my deputies do is drive a car," Kaelin said. "The thing that injures more and causes more loss of dollars to the county of any of the things we do is driving those cars."

Kaelin has been working on the driving issue for months, going through employee records to see what, if any, training his deputies have had in the past.

"There was very limited training," Kaelin said. "They were being sworn in as deputies, assigned to a patrol and then operating high-performance vehicles. We are not going to continue with that route."

Contact Jaime Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@caller.com