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AVALON
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PSO
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utilities on behalf of Oklahoma ratepayers. AEP-PSO announced last year that it will replace all of its 520,000 meters statewide with smart meters by 2016. That will cost about $120 million, according to reports. The $45 million would be an annual increase in rate revenues. If the rate request is approved as led Friday, the average bill would rise $3.97 per month for customers using 1,000 kilowatts hours, AEP-PSO spokesman Stan Whiteford estimated.
Residential customer rates would be 8.84 cents per kilowatt hour, which Whiteford said is 26.91 percent lower than the national average. The overall price per kilowatt hour, including commercial and industrial customers, would be 7.18 cents, nearly 29 percent below the U.S. norm. Even with this modest price increase, amounting to
about one percent per year since our last base rate increase, PSOs rates remain among the lowest in the United States, Solomon said. AEP-PSO provides power to about 530,000 customers statewide, including Tulsa and much of eastern Oklahoma.
Rod Walton 918-581-8457
rod.walton@tulsaworld.com
The facility has 390 beds for men and is in downtown Tulsa. Brian Costello, Avalon Correctional Services chief operating officer and president, spoke to the Board of Corrections and presented a plan for changes. Costello said the agencys decision to remove offenders from the facility came as a shock to his company. The company will replace the halfway house administrator, Donald Coffman, with Chris Villalobos, the companys vice president for operations, he said. Coffman has been placed on suspension with pay, Costello said. Villalobos will remain as administrator until a suitable replacement for Coffman is identied, he said. If DOC continues to use Avalons facility, the company also will pay for a fulltime DOC monitor to ensure offender safety and compliance until all the investigations are nished, Costello said. After the conclusion of the investigations and review of reports, we propose to work with the DOC at the direction of the board to determine what, if any, other changes are required to ensure the continued viability of this facility and the reintegration programs we provide there to offenders, Costello said. He said the plans adoption would keep approximately 100 offenders who have fulltime jobs employed. It would also allow another 40 offenders to continue to search for jobs and another 38 to remain employed with public works
Avalon Correctional Services President Brian Costello speaks Friday at an Oklahoma Board of Corrections meeting in Oklahoma City. Costello proposed that the facilitys administrator be removed and that the Department of Corrections post a full-time monitor at the facility while the department completes an investigation.SUE OGROCKI/Associated Press
crews in the Tulsa area. We truly understand the departments concerns, and we also believe this proposal effectively addresses those concerns, at least on an interim basis, Costello said. We urge the board to consider this proposal and reach agreement on its implementation with the Department of Corrections leadership. The Board of Corrections took no action Friday. Since this item is not on the agenda, we are not prepared to take any action here today, said Kevin Gross, Board of Corrections chairman. But we encourage you to continue to work with the
Department of Corrections leadership to resolve these issues. Gov. Mary Fallin weighed in on the issue during a press conference Friday to discuss the recent naming of a new Department of Corrections director, Robert Patton, currently the division director of operations for the Arizona Department of Corrections. What happened was wrong, and they (Avalon) need to x it, she said, adding that she was pleased that the company has made personnel changes.
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com
DOC
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tough on crime and smart on crime. To say I have this grand scheme to come in here and x it all tomorrow, no, I dont, Patton said. It is my rst priority. Patton said he plans to visit correctional facilities in his rst few months on the job and to meet with employees. I want to see it, he said. I want to touch it. I want to feel it myself. I want to talk to the staff that are doing the job every day. Patton began his career in corrections as an officer in 1985 and worked his way up. I have been there at 2 in the morning, he said. I had to supervise 200 offenders by myself. I have been that sergeant on that shift. I have been that lieutenant and that
captain. That is who I want degree in public administration from Northern Arizona to hear from. Patton said he understands University in Flagstaff. low pay is a big issue for correctional employees. He said Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465 barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com he will do what he can to address the work environment for employees. Salaries are something I cant x overnight, but I will be an advocate for, Patton said. What I am interested in hearing is, what can I x for you right now? LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1982 Patton said he also plans to visit with lawmakers. It is all about relationships, being transparent, open and honest, Patton said. You cant run an agency this large without their HUGE SAVINGS! support because you need nancial support, but you must be able to explain what SEE TO you are going to do. BELIEVE! Patton holds a bachelors degree in correctional administration from Wayland 1080p HDTV Baptist University in PlainONLY $ view, Texas, and a masters
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COBURN
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sons promising career in elective politics. Coburn made it clear before his re-election in 2010 that he would not serve another term, thus effectively raising the gate on the 2016 race. By leaving office two years early, Coburn threw countless well-laid plans into chaos. A 2016 campaign meant statewide officeholders like Attorney General Scott Pruitt and Treasurer Ken Miller could have run without giving up their incumbencies. Now they will have to choose. The earlier date may also make the decision more dif-
cult for rising stars such as Congressmen James Lankford and Jim Bridenstine and state House Speaker T.W. Shannon. No one, Republican or Democrat, was willing to announce his candidacy on Friday. All said they thought it would be disrespectful to discuss the matter so soon after Coburns resignation. There is no reason to rush this, said Bridenstine. Lankford, who spoke to the Tulsa Republican Club on Friday, said he would be making a decision at a later date. A spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin, when asked, said Fallin is denitely not interested in the race. It is generally assumed Coburns successor will be
a Republican, but there are Democrats worth considering. Former Gov. Brad Henry and his wife Kim remain popular. Former Second District Congressman Dan Boren, who did not seek re-election in 2012, still has $500,000 in his federal campaign fund. Former state Sen. Kenneth Corn, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson and state House Minority Leader Scott Inman are also possibilities. Matt Silverstein, a Democrat who is challenging Oklahomas other U.S. senator, Jim Inhofe, said he will not switch to race for the open seat.
Randy Krehbiel 918-581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com
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