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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Council voted 7-1 in a motion to deny the special zoning jail permit for the proposed Oklahoma County Jail at 1901 East Grand Blvd.
The decision is a win for Del City residents and leaders. The community has grappled for months to prevent the jail from being built so close to city neighborhoods and schools.
Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher recused himself from the vote. Del City has hired the law firm Fellers Snider to fight the building of the proposed jail. Stonecipher, a shareholder in the firm, will be involved in the case.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was the only one who voted to approve the permit.
The decision comes after the Oklahoma City Planning Commission voted 5-2 in April for the special permit to operate the jail. The commission initially failed to pass the proposal with a 4-3 vote. As a result, they added a clause. It states that inmates would be released from the Oklahoma County Courthouse downtown rather than from the site.
Councilman Stone Voices Concerns Over Potential Community Impact of Proposed Jail Location
“Part of the issue that I’ve had with this project is that I’ve gotten so many different answers from so many different people,” Ward 4 Councilman Todd Stone said.
Stone is concerned about how the new jail in his Ward will affect the people who are released.
“I totally agree that this is a good piece of land. And if I was an engineer or an architect, you’ve just given me a great big old piece of white sheet of paper and I get to draw everything. Keep the costs as minimal as possible. I get that. I totally get that,” Stone said.
He then adds, “The concern for me though, is that again, it’s got details that can be laid out in an area where they can walk 600 feet over to the neighborhoods. And that’s really about the only place to go in this area.”
Community Activist Criticizes Long, Flawed Process of Relocating Jail to Service-Deprived East Oklahoma City
They would move the jail to East Oklahoma City, where no immediate public services such as a courthouse or police station are available.
“For those of us who’ve been involved with the jail discussion at the county level it’s been a long and difficult process,” Jess Eddy, a community activist, said. “For two years now. We’ve been asking for a good process and good policy in this, and we just haven’t gotten it quite presentable that time. Because of the negligence and dereliction of duty in the county, you and we are all nowadays due to times, and I think it’s disingenuous.”
Del City Leaders Urge Oklahoma City to Reject Jail Permit, Vow to Continue Fight
Del City, City Manager J.D Hock gave comments at the meeting.
“I’m coming to you not only as the city manager of Del City but also as Oklahoma City’s little brother, and we need help,” Hock said. “My community is incredible. I’m very proud of everything that happens in the City of Del City. I’m asking you all humbly to vote no on this special use permit because I feel that this will have a catastrophic impact on my city.”
Del City Mayor Floyd Eason vowed to continue fighting until the battle over the jail permit is completely over.
“We fought a good fight. It may not be over. But we’re not going to give up,” Eason said. “We are not going to quit until the commissioners quit and move out of our area. We will continue to fight.”
Commissioner Maughan Warns Delays in Jail Decision Jeopardize Use of Federal Funds
Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan says the next starting point will be to reevaluate the other proposed sites. He also mentioned they will not eliminate the East Grand Boulevard location.
“We’ve been to a multitude of sites for prospective locations, including ones that weren’t ultimately selected because there appeared to be no support from the council,” Maughan said. “So I’m afraid that there is going to be a reoccurrence of this regardless of which location we choose.”
Maughan said the decision is a “huge blow” to the timeline of the use of federal dollars.
“People might say, ‘well, what are you talking about? You got more than half the year ahead of you Why, Why the hurry?’ Maughan said. “It’s because in earnest, the contractor who’s been selected to build it has told us, you know, ‘we’re gonna need some time to do this.’ And it will come to a point where they conclude it’s an impossibility for them to fulfill that completion by the deadline.”
Rising Costs and Federal Funding Deadlines Challenge Oklahoma County’s New Jail Project
In 2022, Oklahoma County voters approved a $260 million bond package to build a new jail. County Commissioners estimated the plan would cost $297 million.
However, cost estimates released at an Oklahoma County Citizen Bong Oversight Advisory Board meeting in April put the figure between $610 million to $677 million.
Oklahoma County has about $220 million available after spending funds on bonds sold in early 2023, to hire jail designer HOK and Flintco to build the jail.
HOK’s design will include a mental health facility connected to the jail to claim federal dollars for the project.
However, the county has until December 31, 2024. Hence, it must use some of its designated $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds toward building the jail’s mental health facility.
Councilwoman Hamon Questions Legal Status and Rights of Patients in Proposed Mental Health Facility
David Box, an attorney, said in his presentation to the city council that the mental health facility built alongside the jail will not classify people taken there as inmates.
However, people who are taken in would not be able to leave the facility until proper evacuation proves they won’t be a harm to themselves or others.
Ward 6 Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon had concerns over what happens if a patient wants to or tries to leave before completing treatment.
Box said that mental, behavioral, and medical professionals will be involved. Moreover, these professionals will initially evaluate people who show signs of mental distress. Next, law enforcement will pick up these individuals and take them to jail. They will then determine if the individuals have committed a very low-level crime and have no criminal history. If so, they will become patients of the mental health facility.
“They can kind of have the opportunity to sign some paperwork to agree to go through counseling sessions,” Box said. “And they can move over and this will be approved by the DA’s office.”
Nevertheless, Hamon still had concerns.
“My concern is still that folks with some very severe needs are caught in this loop,” Hamon said. “Mostly I just wanted to understand the legal sort of definition of like whether they are incarcerated or not because I’m still hearing, ‘they’re not free to go but it’s not something that’s going to show up on like a criminal history for them.”
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Del City Rallies Against Proposed Jail Permit and Location
While the proposed jail is in Oklahoma City limits, it is 800 feet from Del City borders.
Del City residents, officials, and activists started fighting to have the jail built elsewhere months before the county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the plans for the jail.
“This proposed facility will do nothing but bring order to the area. It’s worth noting if you look at your memo, there was zero legal protests,” a representative for the [jail] permit application said during the Oklahoma City Council meeting.
During a special meeting on February 8, the Del City Council unanimously approved allocating $150,000 from the budget. This funding will be used to support legal action against the Oklahoma County Commissioners.
Mayor Eason previously told KOKH Fox 25 that he’s concerned about how dangerous it would be to have the new jail location within a mile of more than a thousand homes. He emphasized the potential risks to the community’s safety.
“It’ll be a direct impact against our city, and we’re willing to take it to the courts,” Eason said. “We feel the big dog is trying to push this jail that nobody else wants off on us.”
Hock wrote a letter to citizens thanking them for their support as the city moves forward with legal action.
“I want to thank each and every one of you that have attended County Commissioner Meetings, submitted public comments, and signed petitions to show your opposition of this location. The support we have received from our citizens, school district, and surrounding communities has united and unified us in the most positive ways. Know that your voices DO make a difference in our government and your City Council, city employees, and I will continue to fight for the best interest of our incredible city each and every day.”
Del City, City Manager J.D Hock’s statement in his letter to Del City residents.
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