When I read the article entitled Sheriff Opposing Jasper’s Annexation Request (Nov. 6, 2008), I felt I should address some of the points Archie Dunn made.
First, MoDOT is interested in receiving input from the County Commission and could care less what Archie Dunn thinks in this matter.
Second, Dunn stated we couldn’t support our own police department as the county gets some calls due to us not having an officer available. The City of Jasper cannot support a multi-shift 24/7 police department.
Most all other small Jasper County towns have similar situations.
When we do not have an officer on duty, we rely upon county to cover a call. After all, we do pay for that coverage in real estate taxes and the county law enforcement taxes paid by our citizens.
But, when we do have an officer on duty, it is none of Archie Dunn’s business as to what that officer does when he is on duty.
Perhaps the taxes collected from our citizens could be better utilized in providing service to our community rather than buying cowboy hats for all county deputies, which they obviously do not care to wear since you hardly ever see a deputy wearing his issued hat when they are out of their vehicle. How much more frivolous spending has occurred on other unnecessary items?
Third, Dunn states that he has opposed annexation issues “when cities take in state roads specifically to set up speed traps.”
The City of Jasper already has the legal right by state statute and local ordinance to patrol the portion of US Highway 71 that passes through our city limits.
By definition a speed trap is a portion of road in which the speed limit decreases long before a motorist expects the change.
The portion of Highway 71 in the Jasper city limits the speed limit does not change at all. On Highway 71 the speed limit is 70 miles per hour all the way through the area. This is not a “speed trap” as stated by Dunn and he should know it.
Fourth, Dun stated that two departments already patrol Highway 71. Although the State Police has been seen patrolling this portion of the highway, Jasper County has never been seen patrolling this area.
Additionally the City of Jasper has issued several speeding tickets in the past year. Does the county care to compare numbers?
Fifth, and finally, in a Joplin Globe article on this subject, Dunn stated that accidents have been called in due to passing motorists calling in an accident because they saw a city police car out on Highway 71.
