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Thursday, May 2, 2024
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Ricky Martin Seeks Another Term as District 3 Commissioner

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He’s completing his second term as the District 3 County Commissioner and looks forward to another one if elected. 

In a recent interview, he was asked about what he felt like was the greatest accomplishments over the past four years and he quickly responded “the equipment we have paid for and the roads we have built.” 

He said that recently they have received quite a bit of help from the Comanche Tribe with the roads. “They are talking about maybe finishing the roads going on into town (Ryan).”

He wanted to address the concern that he wasn’t getting enough REAP Grants. “I’m trying to get all the money for the county that I can. It’s not easy, plus you have to match the funds you get in a REAP Grant.”

Martin said that some have even complained about him working on the weekends and after hours. 

“I do it because it helps us to stay caught up. Plus I like doing it. I like working.”

Martin believes that the hours of a county commissioner are 24-7. 

“If you get a call about a flood or a road damage you have to go when called. It’s not just an eight hour a day job.”

 Martin has lived in Terral his whole life.

“Except for the two years  I was in the army.”

Before becoming the county commissioner of District 3 he had driven a truck for a living. 

What he has enjoyed the most is the getting to know and help the people of his district. 

He says that being commissioner is a good job. He acknowledged that the pay is not that much, but he enjoys the work. 

During the next term he wants to rock more roads and clean up more of the ditches along the side of the road. 

He has some ideas about saving money.

When they get all of the equipment paid for he would like to see the district get some newer trucks. 

He’s also proud of the new county barn. It was built with a $45,000 REAP Grant and local volunteers and of course the county hands. 

Rash Barrett loaned the county the track hoe to set the beams.

David England loaned them some equipment.

Tony Rodriquez helped by welding the beams.

Ty Phillips came down and helped. 

Martin says that they have good hands working in District 3. 

His goal is to finish all the current projects before the end of the year. 

Kenny Wall Retires After 28 Years of Service

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 It all started in January of 1991. 

Kenny Wall had begun a journey in county government by becoming  the District 1 County Commissioner in Jefferson County. 

In 2008 he left the District 1 Commissioner position to become the manager of projects for the Circuit Engineering District number 6. 

As the only full-time employee of District 6 he worked for nine counties as an overseer of the road and bridge projects, and hired the engineers for the projects. He would then oversee the project all the way through to completion. 

Although the Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts were set up in 1997 there wasn’t any money available for the hiring of employees until 2008. Kenny Wall was the first full-time employee for District 6, Jefferson County is a part of that district.

He was the one who set up the way the district 6 is operated. 

Because there wasn’t any money to hire other staff personnel he had to be creative. Most of the work he did by himself. 

His office was in his home because they didn’t have the money to buy offices. 

The individual counties worked with Wall on the projects. 

The districts are funded by the Department of Transportation. 

Wall said he was able to give back around $540,000 to the counties in his district each year. 

His goal was to always do what he could to help the individual counties the best he could. 

What he will miss the most will be the interaction with the commissioners of those counties. 

What he will enjoy about retirement is working with his reining horses and competing in shows. 

He has been participating in the reining horse competitions for about 20 years. 

He recently won first place in a competition at Shawnee after sitting out for about a year. 

Wall will also enjoy spending time with his grandchildren. He and his wife Sheila have three. Their daughter Shandra Yasuda has two girls and a boy. 

Joel is 13.

Abby is 7.

Elly is 4.

He says they keep him busy. But he enjoys them immensely.

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