Oklahoma County Commissioners have ignited controversy with their recent vote to secure federal funds for a mental health facility to be built at the site of a proposed county jail. This decision comes amid vocal opposition from community members and ongoing litigation regarding the rezoning of the property. Yesterday, during a public meeting, emotional frustrations boiled over as residents confronted commissioners over their course of action. "You guys have screwed this up from day one," Christopher Johnston said in public comments made available by KFOR.
Commissioners face a pressing deadline to expend the federal money by the end of December, which adds to the complexity of the situation. If they fail to appropriately use the funds, they risk losing them. "This is a formality. Puts it and makes it available for us moving forward for that behavioral health center," Myles Davidson, the county commissioner representing District 3, told KOCO. Critics argue that this seeming rush to progress regardless of the lawsuit's outcome could lead to financial waste or, worse, a requirement to repay the funds should the property rezoning issue not resolve favorably for the county.
In defense of the decision to move forward with the mental health facility, Davidson argued the potential benefits outweigh the risks, emphasizing the county's past distribution of federal funds to other initiatives. "It could be reallocated for anything that we have already previously had MOUs with," Davidson said in remarks captured after yesterday’s meeting, according to a report by NonDoc. Such reassurances have done little to assuage concerns raised by the People’s Council for Justice Reform and others who see the county's venture as a high-stakes gamble.
Questions about the voting process arose when non-elected official Blough participated in the vote on the MOU. Blough, who has a long tenure serving District 1, responded to objections regarding his involvement. "The statutes are clear," Blough explained, and further stated, "I’ve worked for District 1 my entire career. I’ve served three county commissioners and an interim county commissioner. I don’t live here, that is true. But I have served the people of Oklahoma County District 1 for 19 years now, and I will continue to do so," as quoted by NonDoc.
