Ok. County Commissioners vote to renegotiate Behavioral Health Facility
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) - The clock is ticking for Oklahoma County Commissioners to use federal COVID dollars to build a new behavioral health facility. While they try to lock down a new jail location, commissioners said they'd rather move to use to money than lose it.
"We'd like to at least not lose that," said Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner.
There's an ongoing feud between a majority of the county commissioners and the City of Del City, to place the jail near SE 15th and Grand.
"Del City cannot sustain that kind of blow," said Walter Jacques, with the People's council for Justice Reform.
"You are going to cause chaos," said Gina Standridge.
On top of that, there are concerns about how to use $50 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds, or ARPA Funds.
The plan was to use that money on a behavioral health center adjacent to the jail, if the city approved the jail location.
"As it sits now, we're looking at anywhere between $40-$46 million," said Myles Davidson, an Oklahoma County Commissioner.
"That money should have never been earmarked for a jail, a mental health facility in a jail or as a feeder from the jail is still building a jail, which is illegal," said Mark Faulk, with the People's Council for Justice Reform.
"It isn't for the jail, it's a companion item. It would be best practice to have it near by the jail," said Maughan.
Some, want the Behavioral Health Facility to, as they said, benefit everyone.
"Why are you the keeper of the purse, holding the ARPA funds hostage," said Cynthia Cancarelli, with the advocacy group.
"Del City doesn't want the s******t jail in America," said Sean Cummings, another criminal justice advocate. "They'll take a mental health facility."
In an effort to save ARPA funds, and move forward with the behavioral health facility at east grand boulevard, commissioners voted to separate and renegotiate the contract.
"I'd like to make a motion to direct the county engineer to renegotiate the contract," said Maughan. "If we have the opportunity to go forward and build a mental health facility, obviously the $50 million's at stake and want to go forward, we don't want to lose that opportunity."
Criminal justice advocates said, they'll take it.
"This is progress," said Faulk. "Deal with mental health first. That's why we say community based mental health facilities are the best. the county has proven that they cannot run anything."