OK County Commissioners move forward with discussions regarding land swap with Crooked Oak Public Schools
OKLAHOMA COUNTY (KFOR) - On Wednesday morning, Oklahoma County Commissioners approved to move forward with discussions with Crooked Oak Public Schools regarding potentially moving the school’s outdoor athletic facilities away from the chosen jail site at East Grand and Southeast 15th Street.
Members from the Mid-Del community showed up to Wednesday’s Oklahoma County Commissioner meeting again. They are still pushing county officials to drop the chosen jail site.
“How can you enter into talks or an agreement with the school district when you don't even own the property you’re wanting to swap?” said Gina Standridge, Mid-Del Public School board member.
Crooked Oak Public Schools have plans to build a new sports complex on a property that backs right up to the chosen jail site at East Grand and Southeast 15th Street. Everyone agrees that it is too close to the jail. The school district would have the opportunity to place the athletic facilities closer to existing school buildings.
So, the idea is, what about a land swap?
“My goal is to do the best things for our students,” said Brad Richards, Crooked Oak Public School Superintendent.
In past meetings... many have pointed fingers at Crooked Oak Schools. Superintendent Brad Richards stresses in no way has he ever been in support of the chosen jail location, but he stands behind his decision to consider a land swap if it means keeping his students safe.
“I'm not a county commissioner. We don't have a vote. I understand that people have said before that if Crooked Oak does this, this is going to happen. But explain to me how that how that works when we already know the jail will go there legally,” said Richards.
However, community organizer Jess Eddy has this message for Crooked Oak Public Schools.
“I understand that the Crooked Oaks superintendent thinks the jail is going to go there and he's just trying to get the best deal for his school district. But if he were coming to these meetings, he'd know that it doesn't look like the jail is necessarily going to go there,” said Jess Eddy, community organizer.
Eddy is pointing to rumors that the Oklahoma City Council plans to downvote the rezoning.
“Community members are concerned and don't understand why they're continuing to pursue that. When it looks like at the city council, they can't get approval for it at the end of the day,” said Eddy.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson says he doesn’t believe they would have to follow the vote because of private property rights. He also thinks it would take a judicial ruling to stop any construction.
“I hear it is split four to four with possibly the Mayor being the deciding vote. So, and anything this big... You're going to have people that are against it and you're going to have people that are for it,” said Myles Davidson, Oklahoma County Commissioner, District 3,” said Davidson.
The planning commission still has to make a decision and then the rezoning request would be presented to the Oklahoma City Council. KFOR was told that meeting will likely take place in late April.