Commission to vote on condemnation of property

The Ponca City Board of Commissioners will vote Monday night on a resolution declaring the necessity for acquiring Lots 8, 9, and 10 of Block 11, Lynchville Addition to the City of Ponca City, for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining a police and jail building.

The resolution would authorize, instruct and direct the city attorney and staff condemn the property if the parcel cannot be purchased and damages settled by agreement with the landowners. This will include any structures located on the parcel.

Bobby and Haley Goddard are the current owners of the property known as 320 S. 4th Street, Ponca City, Oklahoma. The property is a parcel of land in the southeast corner of the block and the only land not currently owned by the city or under negotiated contract for the city to purchase.

The land was purchased by the Goddards in August of 2016 for $25,000. The city’s legal staff says there have been minimal improvements made, if any, since its purchase. The property is unoccupied, but has a structure in place.

The city offered to purchase the property at a price that would allow the Goddards to recover their entire financial investment, plus a profit was added in the offer to help them acquire and relocate on other nearby property, across the street.

By telephone conversation of March 1, 2018, confirmed in writing of the same date, they have rejected all offers.

This resolution provides authorization and direction to the City Attorney’s Office to begin condemnation proceedings for this real property, which is necessary for the construction of the new Ponca City Police Department and Jail building.

This condemnation is based on the real property needed pursuant to the plan previously developed by Development Services and the design consultants for this project.