On a sunny day outside the Oklahoma capitol, a massive tower crane lifted a symbol of what some say is a true waste of taxpayer dollars – a portable toilet.
As it was hoisted to a new location amid the construction, onlookers snapped a photograph that would be shared throughout the capitol, causing lawmakers, elected officials and people who really need to go to the bathroom wonder why such an expensive piece of construction equipment was needed at all.
According to records from the Office of Management and Enterprise services, the crane is costing taxpayers $1.1-million. That includes the cost of the operator of the crane at $227,020.
However, any casual observer of the capitol construction would note the crane, when it isn’t lifting portable toilets, goes unused on most days.
It makes one wonder the purpose of the crane. Is it being kept around as a symbol of Oklahoma growth, or do lawmakers have it on stand by to assist in the construction of the next American Ninja Warrior obstacle course?