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A technical and electronic company doing Calhoun County's E-911 system has taken
Chapter 7 bankruptcy. McKenzie Engineering Corporation of Summersville has
discontinued business with a filing, according to the U. S. Bankruptcy Court of
Southern West Virginia.
The petition was filed on July 1, and lists $52,745 in assets and $356,609.93 in
liabilities.
Commissioner David Barr said it is likely the county will file to protect the counties
interests. "We would want to get computer files Mckenzie might still have," he
said.
Chapter 7 means obligations and debts are discharged.
Owner Doug McKenzie, who contracted with several West Virginia counties to
complete electronic, mapping and addressing systems, had been in hot water with
the Calhoun Commission for over a year.
McKenzie essentially installed the electronic components for Calhoun's E-911
system, but then began to default on the completion of his part of the addressing and
mapping system. He failed to meet his own deadlines, but when summoned to a
commission meeting he declared he was finished with the contract.
Later he appeared to re-group, offering some assistance to local officials and
volunteers to move the E-911 system ahead.
In recent memos he sent to the Commission, he made accusations local officials and
volunteers had not done their part. In a letter sent to McKenzie by the county, they
did not accept the blame.
County Clerk Richard Kirby, at the direction of the Commission, recently asked
McKenzie for new time frames, but he failed to respond.
The Commission felt the installation of electronic equipment for E-911 had been
essentially delivered, under the initial $50,000 plus contract, but McKenzie had fallen
short of the completion terms in the contract.
Local 911 Director Barry Pitts and Roane County's 911 and OES Director Rob Miller
appeared at a recent Commission meeting, at which time Miller said he felt McKenzie
was defaulting on his contract.
The Commission told McKenzie earlier this year, a $12,000 maintenance contract
would be canceled, after which McKenzie threatened to bring suit.
The Commission will likely have the issue on the agenda for the next meeting.
Numerous counties have experienced problems with the company, and they will be
affected, some of them having high-money contracts.
Calhoun County is still hoping to get a donation promised by Verizon, for the
completion of the E-911 system.
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