More than three weeks after the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry into a deal between Swadley's Bar-B-Q and the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, Gov. Kevin Stitt finally made his first public comments on the matter.
Asked at a Monday news conference if he would call for an audit, Stitt answered, "Absolutely. We want to be the most transparent administration. I've called for eyes more than any other government."
He said he didn't want to pile any new audits on those he understood are already ongoing, but didn't rule out calling for another.
"If I need to call for another audit? 100%," he said.
The OSBI confirmed it launched its investigation on March 25, five days before the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency released a report showing nearly $17 million was paid to Swadley's Bar-B-Q in its contract to operate Foggy Bottom Kitchens in state parks. The money covered monthly management fees, annual losses and general contracting for Swadley's to renovate and operate state property at seven state parks.
Swadley's initially opened four Foggy Bottom Kitchens in 2020. Two more were added in 2021 before a seventh at Little Sahara was scuttled.
The contract Swadley's was given in March 2020 to operate state-owned properties was a reversal from previous deals the state struck with operators. Concessionaires before paid a small percentage of monthly receipts whether they profited or...
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