TheChandlerCityCouncil voted to proceed with transferring portions of the Senior Citizen Center and Econolodge property to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at its regular meeting on March 10.
The Council voted to authorize CityAttorney Larry Lenora and legal to proceed with legal paperwork conveying a narrow portion of the yard in front of the Center to OTA for a contract amount of $70,955. They will also convey a small portion of the frontage land along the western edge of the Econolodge property for the contract amount of $42,015.
The land transfer is for the ongoing turnpike widening and expansion project calledAccess Oklahoma. The OTA will be reconfiguring the turnpike entries and exits at Chandler, said City Manager Jason Orr. The Authority is currently in the property acquisition phase, though construction is estimated to start around Spring 2028, according to the Access Oklahoma website. The project is estimated to cost around $49.88 million.
The Council also approved rezoning property at 110 W 12th Street from unzoned to general commercial so that the E911 Trust Authority can eventually build a new building for the call on the empty lot that it owns.
“We don’t have any concrete plans yet or what it’s going to be, but we’re just moving in that direction,” said Orr, speaking as one of the board members for the E911 Trust Authority.
He said the lot is about 5,000 square feet and the Trust Authority is hoping to build a 2,500 square feet building.
The Council discussed the possibility of offering a recycling program for Chandler residents. The issue was tabled pending more research into finding volunteers to help man the drop-off spot.
School Resource Officer Aaron Bennett and High School Principal Freddie Hall made a presentation on introducing a city ordinance on truancy in Chandler, saying it continues to be a growing issue. The Council voted to have Lenora do more research into such ordinances and then write a draft ordinance to bring back to the Council. Concerns were raised over what was allowed, what was not allowed, and the effectiveness of truancy ordinances.