Working to Restore Trust

Mayor Kathy Taylor has initiated several action steps to correct processes and address issues that arose last week in three City departments.

The City of Tulsa is fully cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s office in the fraud and bribery indictments of two former Public Works Department employees and four businessmen dealing with Public Works’ contractors. In order to tighten measures against fraud and ethics violations, the City’s management team is undertaking a compliance and standards review and launching an employee education and training program to ensure that city employees know how to recognize and report ethical violations at any level of city government without fear of reprisal. Mayor Taylor is leading her management team in interviewing forensic accountants and auditors who can independently audit Public Works to recommend best practices to implement throughout the contracting process.

The Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) has addressed inaccuracies in its training records. City officials are working with Dr. John Sacra of the Tulsa Medical Control Board to conduct protocol testing for the firefighters with inaccurate training records. The TFD will file a response to the Health Department by the end of the month and City Auditor Phil Wood is conducting an independent inquiry on training records.

Airport Director Jeff Mulder has been assigned to lead the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority since the board placed MTTA Director Bill Cartwright on administrative leave. The board has requested that an audit to ensure proper accounting procedures is in place and is moving to hire a Chief Financial Officer.

As the City of Tulsa moves forward to correct these issues, updates will be provided to the public through posts to the cityoftulsa.org website, news releases and City of Tulsa employees.