OKLAHOMA COUNTY (KFOR) — Oklahoma County leaders announced Friday that there is a date for mediation with Oklahoma City to agree on a new jail site location.
This is said to happen before a December 31 deadline, after which residents could lose out on a mental health facility to go alongside it.
"We don't want a damn jail here," said Robert Koon during public comment Friday.
Many leaders throughout the county spoke out Friday against the proposed location near Southeast 15th and East Grand.
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This comes after the city announced Tuesday that it plans to proceed with finding a new jail site and called for third-party mediation. Minutes later, commissioners voted to move forward with a lawsuit against the city council.
"A mediation has been scheduled for next week, and the council will have elected representation present," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in response to Friday's announcement. "The council looks forward to the conversation and is very hopeful it will be productive."
"I'm just going to be open with everyone here, we already spent $21 million at that site. We cannot enter mediation on a different site," announced Oklahoma County District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson. "We will enter into the mediation as long as a different site isn't discussed."
The concern has been that an agreement has to happen before the December 31 deadline as that is the ending date that around $40 million in ARPA funding has to be appropriated.
The county told News 4 they are set to have a December 26 special meeting to go through a list of organizations and projects that would get the money if the city doesn't agree to the site.
"That $40 million isn't going anywhere, as I've said many times," said Commissioner Davidson. "We will then pick where that money will go. Give those ARPA dollars to the non-profit world and other cities who would use that money in that manner."
"I'm asking the commissioners to not waste this money holding it back for this facility that you can't even afford to build," said Del City Mayor Floyd Eason during public comment Friday.
Mayor Eason has been one of many leaders near the proposed site who has been against it.
"This isn't going to smoothly pass on down the road. We're going to end up fighting this," said Mayor Eason.
"To continue to build a mental health and jail so close to schools, neighborhoods, daycares, parks, and a special needs living center is careless," said Gina Standride, a school board member for Mid-Del public schools. "Building on the back of our youth is dangerous. District 1 was not represented today. To send a commissioner to negotiations with Oklahoma City who has so many ethical questions raised about him should not be trusted to negotiate on behalf of citizens. Del City and Crooked Oakj citizens have been deemed least, last, and lost."
The Attorney General’s Office issued a “letter of counsel” last week. It stated a court would “likely grant immunity” to the county in the case. Commissioners claim they have “superior sovereignty” over the piece of land.
Commissioners have argued that they want the city to design a special permit and they are offering a bus stop if the city maintains it and operates it.
December 23 is when the commissioners said that they would hold a special meeting to discuss where the funds could go if the city doesn't agree.
Then on December 31, the city is expected to hold a council meeting where they would have to decide. Commissioner Davidson said they would have the last rubber stamp of approval.
The Oklahoma City Council meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. December 31 while the deadline is set for midnight later that night.
