In the ongoing tussle over the location of a new county jail, the scales have tipped in Oklahoma County's favor, as per the latest ruling by Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Amidst a legal battle with Oklahoma City over zoning power, Drummond's official opinion, as reported by OKC FOX, states that while Oklahoma County is not in a position to claim superior sovereignty over the city, it does indeed have immunity from the city's zoning laws when it comes to establishing a new jail facility on county-owned land.
The friction among these civil entities began to unravel after Oklahoma County decided to use property within Oklahoma City limits to build the jail, subsequently being denied the necessary permits by the city. The County Commissioners, challenging the city's denial, sought to assert a stance of sovereignty, an action which promptly led to litigation. Amidst the legal wrangling, Representative Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, requested Drummond to officially weigh in on the matter, reported The Oklahoman.
Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. The Attorney General's opinion arrived just in time to potentially clear the way to use $40 million in pandemic relief funds from the federal government, earmarked for a mental health facility for arrestees at the contentious site. This pivotal decision came a mere day before a crucial deadline for the allocation of these funds, as highlighted by Free Press OKC.
According to Maughan in a statement obtained by The Oklahoman, the county plans to promptly commence construction on the mental health facility within the next two to three weeks, an endeavor made possible by Attorney General Drummond’s ruling. The Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is slated to review further litigation against Oklahoma City regarding permitting troubles related to both the jail and the mental health center this coming Tuesday.
The City of Oklahoma City has yet to release a statement regarding the opinion. However, this recent development marks a significant shift in a standoff that could redefine relationships between county powers and city governance.
