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State Auditor Gary Jones released a statement this morning on the serious concerns of at least 8 county governments and one district attorney.
Jones said; "We have received the request and have already begun looking into the matter.". Sooner Politics recently reported on a serious claim of $230 million missing from the Oklahoma Department Of Transportation (ODOT) fund allocations for counties. the County Improvements to Roads & Bridges (CIRB) holds & protects funds for each county for long term capital improvements for transportation infrastructure. One District Attorney from the Ada area has initiated a request of the state Auditor & Inspector's office, to begin a proper investigation. Statewide Reactions
Several counties around the state are now expressing deep concern on the CIRB Funds. On Monday we expect several official statements from county commissioners and budget board members.
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In Wagoner County, Lori Hendricks is the County Clerk & Secretary to the County Commission. She said; "Without ODOT funds most counties cannot undertake large road projects such as widening, paving and bringing structurally insufficient bridges up to date. ODOT also has a revolving fund which they use to offer zero interest loans to counties with which to purchase machinery such as road graders and asphalt-laying machines."
Logan County Commissioner, Marven Goodman
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In North Central Oklahoma, County Commissioner Marven Goodman expressed his reaction;
"This is not surprising. But very few people with the power to do so will investigate and take corrective action. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve gotten this response from a state agency employee, 'Nobody has ever ask us that before'.”.
Goodman and his colleagues on the Logan County Commission have worked strenuously to get their rural roads & bridges repaired. Their county is in the heart of the earthquake activity for the past decade." |
Wagoner County Clerk, Lori Hendricks
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CIRB OVERVIEW from MYOKACCO on Vimeo.
