OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma County Commissioners approved an MOU Monday that locks in the expenditure of $39 million for a new mental/behavioral health facility on the same site they want to use for a new jail.
As clarified later after the meeting, the vote for the MOU was simply locking in the expenditure of the money but was not a vote on starting construction, which would come later.
The vote represented one more step toward a new jail at 1901 E. Grand Boulevard in OKC but within yards of a Del City neighborhood and an elementary school.
And, while the MOU is about using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a behavioral health facility, the issue is wrapped in complex, festering issues about where the new jail could/should be located.
Some rose to protest the idea of committing the $39 million and questioned whether the county would have to repay that money to the federal government someday if the building of the facility on land that was in question was found to be illegal.
Critics contend that the jail cannot be built with the $260 million bond that voters approved in June 2022 for a new jail and believe commissioners will soon ask voters for more money.
Struggles to find a site
The Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners decided in February to place a new county jail on open property at 1901 E. Grand Blvd southeast of downtown OKC despite protestations of neighbors and city officials in the City of Del City which is a few hundred yards to the east of the site.
It came after commissioners failed in their attempts to locate the jail on open lands at Will Rogers World Airport and the Oklahoma City Stockyards.
At one point commissioners were considering an Eastside OKC site near NE 23rd and Coltrane.
They backed off of that idea after pleas from a large number of residents in the area who argued that the Eastside has been industrialized for years and never really allowed to develop as a residential area.
Zoning conflict with City of Oklahoma City
Commissioners experienced another setback when the Oklahoma City Council voted against the commissioners’ proposal to rezone the Grand Blvd site which would allow the building of a jail.
All of the councilors except for Mayor David Holt voted against the zoning change stalling the commissioners’ plans for the site.
Into court
Oklahoma County’s response to the zoning change denial was to go to court seeking a ruling that the county is sovereign over all matters in the county.
City of Oklahoma City attorneys responded to the suit filing a request that the court dismiss the county’s lawsuit. They argued that if the court was to decide for Oklahoma County sovereignty in this matter the decision would have a ripple effect across all 77 counties.
The county responded that the City of OKC is interfering with the county’s Constitutional duties and asked the court to deny the City’s request to dismiss.
At the same time, Commissioners asked DA Vicki Behenna to try and find a settlement with the City of OKC.
Questions about District 1 First Assistant Joe Blough
There were protests and questions from four persons who have spoken up in the past.
One, Sara Bana, is a candidate for the open District 1 seat on the BoCC and is currently a City Council member in Midwest City.
Bana and another person who often speaks at BoCC meetings, Gina Standridge of Del City, each raised, in their own way, questions about how appropriate it is to let District 1 First Assistant Joe Blough vote on measures that have long-term effects, since he does not live in the district and, so, has not voted there, either.
Bana praised Blough for his many years of public service and commitment to Oklahoma County.
“And while I don’t know if there’s any laws that prohibit you with participating in this item’s vote, but I do wonder if there is an ethical question about your ability to vote on an item that is not a regular and daily operational agenda, an item that is coming before you,” said Bana.
“Because when we have elected officials in your positions of power who are gambling with $40 million of taxpayer money, we can hold those elected officials responsible if we end up being indebted to the federal government in a few years,” Bana said. “But we cannot hold unelected officials accountable, … but the voters can’t at least.”
Bana’s point was based on the criticism some have that if the commissioners build a facility that ends up being illegal or not according to ARPA rules, the Federal government could come back and sue Oklahoma County for the $40 million.
And, Gina Standridge drove home that same point but from a standpoint of ethics.
“Joe, this is not a bash at you at all, because I think you’ve done a good job on what you do,” said Standridge. “But I do believe the voices of District One are not being represented with an elected official. There is no elected official right now in District One, it is unfair and even unethical to vote on anything major that will affect District One residents.”
After the meeting, in a Q&A with the press, Blough addressed that concern and even the point some made that it may be illegal for him to vote on major issues.
Blough said that the statutes are clear that he does have the authority to vote on all items before the BoCC.
“The legislature put it in place that a chief deputy would serve in the event of a death, a resignation, or the absence,” said Blough.
He went on to point out that he is very familiar with District 1 because he has served in District 1 the entire 19 years of working for the county and has served under three county commissioners and an interim county commissioner.
“I am doing the very best that I can, using all of the knowledge that I have at hand to represent those people that I’ve worked for for 19 years,” Blough said.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.