Stillwater apartment complex facing transparency concerns after rebranding

STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) — Two weeks after a Stillwater apartment complex announced its plans to rebrand, some Stillwater vendors who are owed money say they've been left with no resolution.

News 4 has been following problems at Apex on Perkins, which announced a rebranding effort to 'Milestone Stillwater' last month. Concerns range from filthy units, poor communication from on-site staff and issues with getting on-time payments to vendors who were hired for honest work.

Those problems came to a head August 9 during an OSU off-campus student move-in day. While Apex on Perkins is not directly affiliated with the university, students told News 4 at the time that the experience was a disaster.

The move-in day included students waiting in long lines for several hours while others were told to come back the next day. Some students who got their keys, found filthy or unfinished apartments; questioning why management would allow anyone to move-in and put deposits down on units like those.

Stillwater Police confirmed a response August 9 to the complex due to tenants who were unhappy with the process. A spokesperson also confirmed that its code enforcement division had received multiple complaints from tenants and that a letter was sent to property owners August 12 regarding several issues in common areas.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office confirmed to News 4 it had received multiple complaints regarding issues with Apex on Perkins, but could not comment on a potential investigation.

"They've dragged their feet this whole time," said Melanie Davis, with Reliable Clean LLC, who told News 4 she's still owed money.

News 4 caught up with her in August, and, at the time, she told employees she still had an invoice that was more than 90 days past due. Despite reassurances that a check would be coming to cover that invoice, Davis says it hasn't and the late fees are adding up.

"I think they need to get everybody paid and maybe somebody from corporate shows up and actually sees what's going on here," said Davis.

Davis said she didn't know until News 4 made the community aware that there had even been a rebranding; and even with that awareness no one from the new management representing the property, Axela Management LLC, has reached out to her to discuss payment.

"I just don't have any faith that they will follow through with any payments or anything that they're promising," said Davis.

Davis says she's tried to reach out to Axela Management LLC through information provided on a rebranding letter, but hasn't heard back.

News 4 also reached out to other local businesses we've spoken with in the past who said all of their invoices were still not paid.

Last month, News 4 sat down with Sue Northcutt, who co-signed a lease for her granddaughter who is currently staying at the apartment complex. During that interview she noted frustration with issues she had had to deal with herself; and said she would like to see Axela Management LLC take action to address serious concerns.

News 4 followed up with Northcutt on Thursday after she told an employee that she had been in touch with Axela Management LLC Director, Thomas Briggs. Briggs spoke with a News 4 employee a few weeks ago, stressing a future emphasis on open communication prior to a visit to the apartment complex last Monday.

The News 4 employee Briggs spoke with never heard back from him after multiple attempts to make contact, but Northcutt said she was able to get him on the phone this week.

"We spoke for probably about 45 minutes," said Northcutt. "He used the words thinking he was making me feel comfortable that they're taking care of it."

Northcutt said, during the phone call Briggs acknowledged that the property had been seriously mismanaged and there are a lot of problems to sort through, but that he didn't see any problems that couldn't be fixed. Northcutt said he communicated at the time, that the owners of the property were involved, and that they had conversations with vendors.

"I'm going to take it with a grain of salt until I actually see any action," said Northcutt.

A News 4 employee asked Northcutt for her reaction after informing her that the vendors we contacted said they haven't spoken to Axela Management LLC about any outstanding bills.

"That's very concerning to me that he told me one thing and he hasn't actually done that," said Northcutt.

Northcutt says transparency is the best bridge forward, emphasizing that Stillwater is a small community where everyone knows everyone.

"Those vendors that did all that work and haven't been paid, they need to be paid," said Northcutt. "They need to be paid for the work they did because I'm now concerned about who do they actually hire that's saying we'll take your payment whenever you get it to us?"