Time Is Ticking On The Okla. County Commission To Secure New Jail Site

The clock is ticking for Oklahoma County Commissioners to secure land to build a new jail. Commissioners made an official offer to purchase land for the new Oklahoma County Detention Center last month but still haven’t received an answer from the city. 

“I would say the time is drawing very near,” said Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan. 

Maughan said the commission offered to buy land near the Will Rogers World Airport, between Newcastle Road and Southwest 54th Street for $2.5 million, $50 million of that is ARPA funds. Maughan fears if the city doesn’t respond soon, the county risks losing those federal funds.

“It has huge ramifications all over,” he said. “It was a part of the underwriting of the mental health unit that would be a companion to the jail and that was part of the cost factor and what we had gone to the voters and asked for in the bonds.” 

Maughan says the proposal was initially submitted as a lease, but the county changed it, wanting to own the land. 

“We need to build this on something we own, not that we're renting, and so you know when we changed, that has caused them to have to go back and reconsider,” he said.

Another obstacle is where the land sits. Since the area is under FAA jurisdiction, the city and airport trust must consult with the FAA on whether to proceed with sale.

In a statement, Jeff Mulder, Director at Will Rogers World Airport said, “We advised the County that there were several unresolved issues and could not provide a response to their proposal. We are currently investigating and in dialogue with the FAA.”

However, Commissioner Maughan says time is running out, since the federal funds must be spent by 2026, forcing them to possibly look at alternative locations.

“There may be other options we can explore but you know our hope was to try to keep this on a central campus and keep everything rather adjacent to each other. So, it forces us to have to split the baby and maybe do other things which aren't what we were planning to do,” he said. “We've got a lot invested in this so I think everybody's just trying to see patiently what the city will do.”

The city is planning to meet on Monday and Maughan hopes the commission receives an answer by Tuesday.