Highway performance accomplishments include: Saving Tax Dollars, Increasing Efficiency
and Reforming County Government

Commissioner Rinehart Triumphant in Reforming
Highway Department – Savings Generated

I am happy to report complete success in bringing reforms I promised while running for County Commissioner to Oklahoma County District 2. Once sworn in, I initiated a complete rehiring process that selected those most qualified to be employed. In other words, each employee was selected based on merit or qualifications for the job. Now each employee’s job description accurately reflects the critical task they perform on behalf of the taxpayer.

In the rehiring process I eliminated some positions and restructured others to better meet our business needs. In this endeavor to bring a business approach to the operations of District 2, I took one position and restructured it to be that of “Business Manager”; the first ever for District 2. Decisions today are made with a keen interest in getting the best return on material, equipment, and hours of labor.

Through streamlining, there are 4 fewer positions at the district yard today. I have incorporated Quality Management practices in order to get maximum value for the taxpayer. We have conducted the first ever “Employee Input Quality Improvement Survey” for District 2. The survey asked the employee a series of questions on changes they recommend to increase efficiency, value to the County and productivity. Over three hundred recommendations were offered. I created an “Employee Focus Group” to review survey results and prioritize suggestions.

Highway performance accomplishments include:

• 22.2 miles of road construction
• 2 walking trails (Windsor Hills & Hillcrest Elementary)
• 2 parking lots ( Virginia Smith Elementary & ODOC)
• 1 soccer field ( Del City)
• 10 miles of striping
• 1 bus turnaround
• 207 tinhorns installed

Other performance accomplishments include:

• Employees help establish a process to grade existing equipment in order to identify unsafe or mechanically costly to repair equipment for replacement.
• Created an Employee Incentive and Awards Program.
• Installed 5 computers in the Highway Department office for safety training and informational updates on equipment.
• Identified safety issues have been corrected and brought into OSHA compliance.
• Purchased and started use of fuel tracking system as had been requested by auditor.
• Installed signage for Off-Road Vehicle and family recreation at Lake Stanley Draper.
• Brought equipment lease accounts to current status, negotiated the removal of all late charges, and brought accounts payable up to current date.
• With new signage on Highway Department Building politics was removed.
• Initiated four ten-hour days that saves 20% of the fuel to transport crews to work site and increase efficiency by reducing the start up and shut down time of the fifth day.
• Purchased a new traffic sign manufacturing machine which produces signs faster, of better quality and at a lower per unit cost.
• Created an “Equipment Replacement Fund” where 5% of the monthly fuel tax allocation from the state is deposited for the purpose of making direct purchase of equipment so as to save the interest on long term payments and allows budgeting for future purchases.
• Developed and implemented an inmate halfway house program called “Stop theRevolving Door” that provides employment to inmates with a demonstrated record of outstanding work performance with the Highway Department.
• Created “Public Works Recycling Fund” to receive money from recycled cans and metal collected by inmates on roadside cleaning duty. This fund is used for inmate equipment and materials purchases.
• In statewide competition, District 2 won an “Exceptional Merit Award” from the “Keep Oklahoma Beautiful” organization for the innovative use of inmates in the Highway Department litter control program.
• Through an extended mowing program, the Highway Department crews reduced roadside grass fire risks by mowing 82 miles of county road side grass and 8 miles of brush removal in December.

Board of County Commissioners Initiatives

• Initiated Board discussion on felons and sex offenders in nursing homes.
• Commissioner sponsored resolution recognizing United States Constitution Day.
• Sponsored “Solidarity Resolution” with the people of London against terrorism after the bombing of several sites in London.
• Changed county policy to allow employees to retain benefits when moving from one department to another within county government.
• Commissioner promoted reforms of ‘Patriot Act’ to insure privacy protections.

Saving Tinker AFB from Base Closure

• Completing projects financed by the $20,000,000 Tinker Bond Issue and called for the termination of the remaining $30,000,000 in un-issued Bonds.
• Completed fencing perimeter & clearing of the I-40/Douglas property for added security.
• Completed building demolition & clearing of 5500 S Douglas and 9101 SE 49th for clear zone expansion.
• Partial building demolition, parking lot construction and wall reconstruction of Glenwood Plaza at 2720 S. Midwest Boulevard.

Increasing Professionalism

• Supported a comprehensive compensation review in order to reduce pay disparity, increase employee retention and reduce future lawsuit exposure.
• Hiring of an Office and Budget Management Director with 30 years of budgetary experience.
• Hiring of a Management Information Systems Director with 11 years of experience in both the state and private sector.
• Hired an Emergency Management Director with 28 years in fire and EMO experience.
• Hiring of a veteran Safety Director with 17 years experience in the private sector.

Seeking Efficiencies in Government

• Voted to bring greater fiscal accountability and enhanced the transparency of county government by creating the Office of Budget & Management to better serve the people of Oklahoma County.
• Sponsored County Passenger Vehicle Audit and used audit recommendations to create countywide vehicle policy proposals that could result in a savings of $1.7 million over a five year period.
• Sought to have bar-coding of county property, which would provide better inventory control measures, after an audit disclosed the loss of $98,989 of equipment and furniture.

Reforming County Government

• Introduced and supported a resolution to remove the term “sexual orientation” from the County employee handbook. The measure failed when a majority of County Officials voted to keep the controversial language in the handbook.
• Proposed the use of “Performance Audits” for each county office and called upon county officials to sign a “Performance Audit Pledge”.
• Fought to implement fiscally conservative budgeting principles in the current year budgeting and supplemental budgeting process; focusing on providing value and cost saving methods and eliminating waste in government spending.
• Sponsored county-wide standardized definition of terms for highway construction activities. Future reporting will more accurately reflect similar activity between districts.

Year in Review – Road Improvements a Success

The most satisfying aspect of my job as your County Commissioner is the success I have had in making needed repairs on our county roads. I am happy to report that it was a successful year in improving the business practices at the Highway Department.

You can take pride in the knowledge that our employees are qualified for their jobs and they provide the volume and quality of workmanship that result in more and better paved roads. In 2006, we will make even greater gains in road and bridge construction and improvement.

If you have any questions, call me at 713-1502.