Still no resolution on how to spend ARPA funds with deadline days away

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — $40 million remains in limbo with an end-of-year deadline quickly approaching.

"If we go forward after January 1st without this funding, then we'll have to address how we're going to pay for it," said Brian Maughan, District 2 County Commissioner.

Oklahoma County Commissioners and the Oklahoma City City Council met Monday for mediation. However, both parties failed to come to an agreement.

"We are still hopeful. I am at least, that there is some resolve between the city," Maughan said.

At issue, is a mental health facility commissioners want built next to the proposed site of a new Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Some city council members worry about transporting inmates from the location at Southeast 15th and Grand, to courtrooms downtown.

Maughan said they offered a bus system for possible transportation.

"If they didn't want to take it though, you can't force people to get on a bus that they don't want to get on," Maughan said.

Part of the funding for the mental health facility includes $40 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The money has to be spent by December 31. That means a final decision on where to build it has to be made in a matter of days.

"I talked to the mayor a couple of times yesterday and trying to encourage if there was anything else that could still be worked out," Maughan said.

Community members in Friday's special meeting expressed wanting a mental health facility open to the public, not just inmates.

"Instead of building a lockdown mental health facility associated in your jail, turn it to a standalone behavioral health care facility that is open to the community," said Sara Bana from Midwest City Council Ward 5.

Right now, there is still no resolution on how to spend the funds since nothing was decided in Friday's meeting.

The City of Oklahoma City addressed the jail site issue in a statement.

Though the jail and related structures are Oklahoma County projects, the County filed an application with the City of Oklahoma City seeking the City’s zoning approval.  This meant that the City was asked to play a role evaluating the land use and its compatibility with the surrounding area. Those issues were at the center of the recent mediation between the County and the City, which currently stands at an impasse.  The primary issue remaining is that the City would like to see the County seriously address transportation for those being released from the facility, since most services are downtown.  Addressing transportation upon release would be beneficial to those being released and to those who surround the proposed facility. Oklahoma County is now asking a court to effectively remove our jurisdiction regarding the location of the jail at the selected site and asking the Attorney General to weigh in on the same question. While the City respects the legal process, as long as the City has jurisdiction over the question, we will continue to fulfill our obligation and ask that the release and transportation issues be addressed.

City of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma County Commissioners sued Oklahoma City in June for denying the county's request to build both a jail and health center on the land.

Next steps with the lawsuit against the city include a pre-trial conference scheduled for January 23.