Canadian County employee Audre Knott says she would like to turn her nine to five job into a full-time commitment. To do that, she is adding her name to the list of those vying for District 3 commissioner.
The lifelong county resident started working at the courthouse about nine years ago. After filling a seasonal tax position with the county treasurer's office, Knott said she moved to the county clerk's office. She worked about eight years in that department and was appointed purchasing agent for the county during her tenure in that office.
In January 2009, when several new officers were elected, Knott chose to move to the commissioners office. There, she is second deputy as well as serving as recording secretary for the Public Facilities Authority and Home Finance Authority, both entities administered by commissioners.
“Being a commissioner is not a nine to five job; it is a 24/7 commitment,” Knott said. “Grant Hedrick had an amazing team of dedicated employees in District 3, and I look forward to working with each of them.”
Hedrick served as District 3 commissioner for 11 years until his death in an automobile accident Nov. 16. Knott said the former commissioner's service motivated her to run for the seat. The former commissioner inspired her to go “above and beyond” in her service to residents, Knott said.
“Working with Grant was one of the greatest things of my life,” she said. “He was a great boss and a wonderful friend. To follow his footsteps would be an honor.”
Knott said teamwork and safety would be her two primary goals if elected. The candidate pointed to the efforts of commissioners, other county officials and crews during the Dec. 24 storm and its aftermath. She said what happened during those stressful days illustrated a change in the county's leadership, one Knott said she wants to continue.
“What we've seen recently is a growing movement for all three districts to work together and to be a team, and you saw that during the storm, when they all came together,” she said. “We need to promote that and to expand on that.”
An important part of that partnership would be improving residents' safety, both on county roads and bridges and in other areas, such as the issue of the overcrowded county jail, Knott said.
“We need to make sure we have sufficient equipment and resources to provide quality roads and bridges. We need to seek all available grants to supplement county dollars for keeping our roads and bridges to the highest safety standards possible,” she said.
Knott said residents' safety tops her list concerning the Canadian County Jail. The building, which has been cited for several issues, most recently overcrowding, is at the center of a plan by commissioners to pitch a $17.9 million proposal to voters. If approved, the plan would build a new jail to be used in addition to the current 72-bed facility.
Canadian County officials have said more jail space in needed. The debate among them is how to fund it. Voters rejected a proposed $24.8 plan in 2008, which would have been funded solely with sales tax. Knott said she believes sales tax is the funding method to pursue to build “the size jail we really need.”
“Trying to get a sales tax increase approved will be challenging, but it makes more sense to me than increasing the ad valorem tax,” she said. “I don't believe that homeowners and landowners should be taxed twice. With the rapid growth this county is experiencing, I'm confident we can support this with sales tax.”
The jail issue represents not just safety concerns, but could be an answer to budget shortfalls facing the county, Knott said. In the past, the county has had contracts with other entities to house prisoners, but with the restriction imposed by overcrowding, that's not an option now.
“We need to get this jail back to making money rather than losing it,” Knott said. “We have an opportunity to re-establish a revenue-generating facility.”
Knott said the other major issue facing the county is water and finding a long-term solution to area water needs.
“We know about the possibilities of Lake Sardis, and we can work with the Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority,” she said. “What we can't do is sit and look — we need to start looking around now at our options.”