Joint statement between the Ponca City Board of Education and Ponca City Public School Administrators:
“Since 2007 the district has been working toward acquiring all properties between Brookfield and Comanche. We have been very transparent with property owners during this endeavor and have been open with the public.
During the 2015 bond election a long-range need for additional extra-curricular activity space was identified in the form of an athletic field and a multi-purpose indoor facility.
The district has requested to meet with the family multiple times. We are still willing to meet with and work with the family to develop and provide creative options to best serve the needs of Mrs. Welch.
We are sympathetic and we understand this is a very emotional issue for all of us. We have exhausted all means. Eminent domain was the absolute last thing we wanted to do.”
The Ponca City Board of Education approved a resolution in April to authorize the filing of two eminent domain actions to acquire real property.
The resolution authorizes the filing of two eminent domain actions to acquire real property known as Lots 1 through 3 and Lots 22 through 24, Block 59, Cross Addition to the City of Ponca City for the use and possession of the Ponca City Public School district.
Adam Leaming, Assistant Superintendent of PCPS, said the district has been voluntarily purchasing property for 15 years after realizing they were landlocked so this process has been ongoing since 2007. The district has also worked with community stakeholders in presenting a plan for the future use of that land.
On Oct. 12, 1,494 voters (80.98 percent) approved a seven-year bond package which included a new multipurpose indoor space and a new outdoor athletic field to be located between Fifth and Seventh Streets. “The district has made three different attempts to purchase the properties since October … one unofficially and two officially,” said Leaming.
“Students participating in extra-curricular activities has increased in the last 15 years,” said Leaming. “With this additional space, our students will be able to move out of locker rooms under the south side of Sullins Stadium and into the new locker rooms in the multipurpose facility. Doing this now allows time for planning and design to continue on schedule. The district needs to be ready to rezone the properties, relocate utilities, abandon alleyways and streets in order to break ground on this property by Jan. 1, 2023.”
PCPS Superintendent Shelley Arrott said, “We understand the process of eminent domain will be a hardship for the families involved; however, we are trying to make this process as convenient as possible for the property owners as well as planning ahead to serve the numerous students these facilities will impact for years to come.”
“The district has willingly made generous offers to ensure improved accommodations for the families and we are following a methodical process to accomplish this task,” said Arrott.
