HEALDTON, Okla. -- It failed by a narrow margin last month. In November, a carter county town will try again. The aging 911 system in Healdton has been the center of discussion for months. On Wednesday night we learned the citizens will once again be asked to go to the polls to decide its future.
You may have heard the old saying, “If at first you don't succeed, try again.” For people in Healdton, a 911 issue on the ballot is becoming just as cliché.
The city of Healdton operates one of just three emergency 911 systems in the whole county. Theirs is the only one that is badly out of date.
The city of Ardmore maintains a 911 call center, as does Carter County. Almost half of those who voted July 29 in Healdton say they want to join Carter County's system.
Ultimately, the measure failed, and Healdton was left to maintain a costly, ageing system on its own.
On Wednesday night we learned, that will not be the end of it.
"Two of my council have actually volunteered to pay for this election because they don’t want to burden the city, and the city said ‘no’ the first time and to bring back up after it’s been to a vote of the people is a serious thing. It was not something they took lightly," Healdton city manager Sherri Adams said.
The city council voted to put it back on the November ballot for one more try. Two council members are even paying for the costs of that ballot out of their own pockets.
So how much does it cost to keep voting on the same thing?
The Carter County Election Board says Healdton is getting a bargain this year. They only have to pay $334.95 for having the ballots printed because they were having a primary anyway in July, and in November there will already be someone doing the legwork in Healdton precincts, too. It would be much more costly if the city were to hold a special election.