Press Release

Patterson Awards Prizes in Annual Oakland County Employee Suggestion Program

Pontiac, MI, December 11, 2006 -- Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has awarded top prizes to employees who submitted suggestions in 2006 that will reap substantial cost savings.

The first place award of $1,000 in the Employee Suggestion Program (ESP) went to Kirt Hunt (Waterford), Garage Unit, whose idea to extend oil change intervals by 1,000 miles for all non-patrol vehicles will save county taxpayers more than $27,000 a year.

Krista Bills (Waterford), Reimbursement Division, was awarded the $750 second place price for suggesting that prior to scheduling a Show Cause Hearing delinquent taxpayers be notified by letter of the amount owed indicating that if they promptly contacted Reimbursement they might be able to reduce the amount they owe. Her idea will save an estimated $11,500 annually.

Taking home the $500 third place prize was Dawn Westlund (Highland), Human Resources Division, who came up with an idea to reduce the frequency of sending actuarial estimates to those enrolled in the Defined Benefit Program. Her suggestion will save the county about $6,800 per year.

Of the 147 suggestions submitted in 2006, 14 were implemented for a total savings of nearly $65,000. Since ESP was implemented in 1993, the suggestions submitted by county employees have saved taxpayers more than $5.4 million.

ESP prizes are not paid for with any taxpayer funds, but will come out of the proceeds of a special Casual Day fundraising event that was held on December 7th.

For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer, at 248-858-1048.