Oklahoma County Commissioners say they are nearing a decision on the new jail site. On Wednesday morning, they eliminated four of the seven options and now they have three left.
Three locations are left, including the Stockyard site, the existing jail site, and a new one that was added to the list at the southwest corner of SW 74th & Rockwell near Will Rodgers World Airport.
“We’re close to making some decisions in the next week or so,” Blumert said.
One of those options is at the historic Stockyards and the landowners say they won’t sell it.
Oklahoma County Commissioners are under pressure to make a decision after crowds of people filled their meeting at the Oklahoma County courthouse Wednesday morning. The room was so packed that the fire marshal said it was a fire hazard and over capacity.
Some community members who spoke at the meeting got their way and others didn’t.
Immediately, commissioners moved to remove the location at SE 29th Street, west of the Kickapoo Turnpike. The vote passed, but community members were still doubtful and worried it could come back to the list later.
“I’m glad that you guys are taking it off the table. But if history has shown us anything, these locations can be added back to the list again and again. So, I still want to speak on that today,” said someone giving public comment.
After several public comments about the location at 15th and Grand in southeast Oklahoma City and the location at Reno Avenue and MLK Boulevard near the JFK neighborhood, county commissioners moved to remove those too.
Also, commissioners said there was an official word from the airport trust rejecting their offer to build at South Newcastle Road and SW 54th Street.
“Finally got the rejection letter officially turning down our offer from the airport authority. So, it rules out the site of the jail being on the Airport Trust land on 54th and MacArthur,” said Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner.
We want to protect the future. We want to ensure that the stock market is here for the next hundred years, supports those that we will consider in this society to develop as our own and have synergy with the nearby communities to offer an opportunity for creating those kind of living facilities that are next to us,” said Jerry Reynolds, president of the Oklahoma National Stockyards.
After listening to several people who were against the Stockyard location, Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan moved to remove the location. It was rejected.
“I don’t get why there was no second consideration… It’s unfortunate,” said Reynolds.
“The thing for us, for the commissioners that is attractive about that site is it is under the control of the County Planning Commission. The stockyards is technically unincorporated Oklahoma County, so we have full zoning control. Any other site, we have to go to the city of Oklahoma City and get their approval for our rezoning for a jail. So that is why I think you’ve seen the stockyards remain on,” said Blumert.