'Handshake' Sculpture Symbolizes New Tulsa City-County Partnership

Tulsa County Commissioners met briefly Monday morning with new Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum in what both county and city leaders describe as a new era in government cooperation.  The mayor was more than welcomed by the county commissioners - they started giving him gifts.

The mayor was given a sculpture of two hands - shaking - by the commissioners. It was a symbolic handshake they hope to see carried out in policy.

It's been a while since the county and city have agreed on much, and the biggest disagreement of all is the cost of running the Tulsa County Jail. Bynum said he's working on a compromise, and though commissioners haven't seen that yet, already they seem to have high hopes.

12/12/2016 Related Story: Mayor G.T. Bynum: Tulsa Must Grow To Be Successful

"I wanted to come over, I just was planning to just say how excited we are to work with them, and I wasn't expecting the reception that I got, but I'm looking forward to working with them," Mayor Bynum said.

Bynum said a jail compromise could come out of the mayor's office next week - and he plans to review common operations to see what might be combined - starting with a study of the parks system.

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith said, "This new administration just has a whole different attitude about working with their other government partners throughout Tulsa and the region. It's just absolutely a new day. We are very excited."