Sapulpa Residents Protest Plan To Turn Golf Course Into Dirt Pit

A Sapulpa golf course was in line to become a dirt pit if one business had had its way, but people living near the golf course put up a fight to stop it.

Gem Dirt owners and community members had a lot to say about it when speaking to county commissioners, who unanimously voted against the move Tuesday night.

But before the decision, people living in the community said they moved there for peace, quiet and safety. They said allowing the Clary Fields Golf Course to become a dirt field would change all that.

Gem Dirt already has a facility north of Clary Fields, however, they want to shut down that area and move to the field.

The current facility is in Creek County, but with the move to the south, the new facility would be in the city limits, and, therefore, they would need a new permit.

Neighbors said there is already a lot of dump truck traffic and the move would cause even more problems; on top of that, they fear the new dirt pit would create environmental problems, saying it would contaminate nearby Polecat Creek.

They also said they fear oil field plugs under the course would cause more problems down the line once the dirt is harvested.

But, Gem Dirt owners presented research from environmental services that suggested the workings of a dirt field wouldn't cause the environmental problems the citizens feared.

"If we get permission we will be moving all of our equipment and all of our volume into the new pit. We will then take about the next six months with the dozer reclaiming the facility we will be working on for the next ten years. The traffic will remain consistent by simply moving 200 yards to the south to Polecat Creek," Owner Ron Miller said.

In all, more than a dozen people against turning the field into a dirt pit took to the podium to address their concerns.

Although the commissioners recommendation to disapprove the move, it will ultimately be the city council's final call. They will meet March 7th.