'It's not for sale': OKC mega site proposal worries, frustrates Canadian County residents

CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. (KOKH) — A Canadian County resident is sharing concerns about how Oklahoma City's annexation proposal would affect her property.

On June 5, Fox 25 asked General Manager for the Oklahoma City Industrial and Cultural Facilities Trust Kenton Tsoodle if the city plans to annex even more land than 320 acres.

"It's possible, but it's uncertain at this point," Tsoodle said.

Shana Hurst has property across from the proposed mega site, where she has been living for 33 years. Hurst says her property was obtained in the Land Run of 1889. She adds that what Tsoodle said couldn't be further from the truth.

"The secrecy," Hurst said. "That’s the biggest issue. You talk about not wanting to trust government. This is a classic example of that.This is my community. We got a church here. My husband has a new business established here. My friends and my family.This affects the farming community. These people here are farmers, cattle raisers. People that chose not to live in the city. They chose to live in the country, and now you’re bringing the city to us?"

She speaks on behalf of neighbors who received offers for their property at Northwest 10th and Gregory Road.

"I built a house in a rural preserve so I can have that quiet, peace and be able to still farm the 40 acres that’s in farmland," Debra Brown said. "I told him: I'm sorry. It's not for sale."

Hurst showed Fox 25 text messages that she says Tsoodle with the City's trust sent her husband.

"The last offer was $15,000 an acre," Hurst said. "I never planned on moving. We have a memorial garden. My mother took her last breath here. It’s shocking and stuff. I think it might’ve been a better approach if they would’ve been honest instead of the rigmarole they put us through, and still are putting us through."

On Wednesday, Tsoodle offered a message to concerned residents living near the proposed site.

"We're not purchasing any property that would be forcing people out," Tsoodle said. "This is all voluntary. We're only buying property from folks that want to sell it."

After following up with Tsoodle Thursday, he added, "We've been very upfront with them that we've been trying to put together a really big site."

"They are doing the bare minimum of what they're required to do to notify people about this project," Hurst said. "You can't tell me that's being honest."

Tsoodle says, "I understand she's upset that she doesn't want it in her backyard, but we've been very upfront about it. We're trying to put this together for when future opportunities come."

"Oh, like you want a concrete plant in your backyard? Let me go build one for him," Hurst said. "I sure bet I could find you 1,000 acres that they could build this mega plant somewhere else."

Tsoodle shared the following statement with Fox 25:

We offered them money, they declined, so we moved on, We’re not purchasing their property.

We’ve been very upfront with them that we’ve been trying to put together a really big site. The Planning Commission said in the past that we had a 1,300 acre site.

We’ve been very upfront with folks. We’ve sent offers to folks. Sometimes they don’t respond. We’ve sat with people, visited their homes, but like I said: if folks don’t want to sell, they don’t have to. That particular family doesn’t have to.

I understand she’s upset that she doesn’t want it in her backyard, but we’ve been very upfront about it. We’re trying to put this together for when future opportunities come.

We’re not making it a secret. We’re looking at it as a standpoint of Oklahoma City is growing, and we want to be ready when that opportunity comes.