Back to square one? OKC city council denies request to build the new county jail at the chosen site
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Is it back to the drawing board for Oklahoma County Commissioners? On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City city council approved to deny the rezoning request to build the new county jail at East Grand and Southeast 15th Street. It's the site that’s been opposed by the Mid-Del community since day one.
It was all cheers and smiles at the city council chamber on Tuesday after a seven to one vote to deny the chosen jail site location in Southeast Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was the only one to support the site. But now Oklahoma county leaders fear, what's next?
The Mid-Del community was united wearing red and opposed the site during public comment. The vote ultimately went their way.
“It's a state championship right here. And so, you know, I'm happy we've won one,” said Gina Standridge, Mid-Del city school board member.
Opponents of the location at Southeast 15th and Grand are excited for the victory but remain cautiously optimistic.
“We fought a good fight. It may not be over, but we're not going to give up. We're not going to quit until the commissioners quit and move out of our area. We will continue to fight, our next recourse would be the legal system,” said Floyd Eason, Del City Mayor.
County officials now worry the time wasted will affect the deadline to use ARPA funds.
“If you guys vote no today, we got a problem as a community, we all agree we need a new jail and we needed it yesterday. We needed the 60 behavioral beds yesterday. So please consider voting yes if you vote no, tell us where to put it,” said Steve Mason, chairman of Oklahoma County Jail Oversight Advisory Board.
Now many wonder if sovereignty would go into play. That would give county commissioners the authority to go ahead and build the jail on their chosen site despite the vote.
“It isn't clear that it's established, but there is a legal theory that maybe we are sovereign, and we don't have to have jurisdictional approval from the city council, that the county is its own jurisdictional approving authority,” said Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner, District 2.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan says if it does not go into play, it will be back to the drawing board. They would potentially have to look at previous sites, which some have now been sold or developed on.
“Now everything's back on the table,” said Maughan.
Maughan adds, this puts them behind again. This is the second site denied by the city.
“I’m really disappointed because this is a hard vote. I understand that, we constitutionally have to have a jail, I think this is shown enough that it's going to be a re-occurring issue regardless of where we go. Wherever we go, it seems to me that we're going to be up against this same fight everywhere,” said Maughan.
KFOR asked Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna if sovereignty would go into play, if it does, Oklahoma County Commissioners will likely start building the jail at the opposed site and the Mid-Del City community will file a lawsuit.
Behenna told us it is a matter of attorney client privilege.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert (District 1) sent the following statement to KFOR:
"I am very pleased that the City Council did what my fellow Commissioners refused to do and voted down the 1901 E. Grand proposed jail site near Del City." Blumert continues, "I have been against this site during this entire process; however, since time is of the essence to avoid losing federal ARPA funds for the County's Behavioral Care Center, I remain committed to finding a suitable location for the new jail and will continue to work tirelessly to find an alternative that does not harm our communities."
Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson (District 3) sent the following statement to KFOR:
“This decision overlooks the critical need for modern, humane detention facilities that can better serve our community. Our current facilities pose significant risks and challenges. I am disappointed in the city council’s inability to recognize the need for a new jail to ensure the safety and well-being of both inmates and staff.”