Road infuriates Harrah landowners Harrah group accuses outgoing Commissioner Rinehart of last-ditch construction plan
BY RANDY ELLIS and Dawn Marks
Published: November 20, 2008
Some Harrah landowners are furious with embattled Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart for rushing to build a controversial stretch of a section line road through scenic woodlands before he goes out of office in six weeks.
Harrah area landowner Will Vandergriff says he is furious with Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart over a road project in eastern Oklahoma County. Photo by Randy Ellis, the Oklahoman
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The property is habitat for several endangered and threatened species, landowners contend.
"We’ve had people shooting people over things like that,” said landowner Billie Vandergriff, 45, whose family has owned a wildlife refuge bordering the road for 67 years. "They’re criminals. They need to go to jail.”
Wednesday afternoon, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality ordered Rinehart to stop construction on the project until the county submits a storm water pollution prevention plan and obtains a required permit.
The dispute centers on a new section of Wilshire Boulevard that would stretch from Luther Road to Dobbs Road in eastern Oklahoma County. Eighteen Harrah area landowners and residents signed a petition objecting to building the road.
Rinehart said county commissioners approved the project in March 2008 and it is on the Oklahoma County priority plan for 2007-08. Materials will cost about $40,000. County employees are doing the work and it is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete, he said.
"I don’t know of any shenanigans that they’re trying to insinuate,” Rinehart said.
Vandergriff family members contend the land is habitat for numerous endangered species and that Rinehart has run roughshod over environmental laws by failing to obtain required permits.
They say the Arkansas River shiner, red-cockaded woodpecker, chicken turtle and alligator snapping turtle are among endangered and rare species in the area.
If the land has been designated as containing protected species, the storm water plan would have to be approved by the Oklahoma Wildlife Department before construction can go forward, said Skylar McElhaney, DEQ spokeswoman. No such plan will be approved unless it contains specific assurances that protected species will not be harmed, she said.
Monday, a county road crew began bulldozing and has already done damage to the property, said Will Vandergriff, 41, Billie Vandergriff’s nephew. He accused Rinehart of violating a promise not to begin construction without first notifying landowners.
"It’s a road to nowhere that nobody wants,” Will Vandergriff said, noting that it dead ends within a mile or so on either end of the stretch being built.
Rinehart said his predecessor, Jack Cornett, initiated the project in 2003.
The Vandergriffs, however, gave The Oklahoman copies of February 2004 letters from Cornett that stated he was canceling plans to build the road.
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Cindy, there's no contradiction. I think Rinehart, as usual is wrong.
I also think Fernando is wrong. But, I don't believe that's any reason to insult him as you and Chris did. By the way it's spelled, "contradicting".
No Chris, you didn't call him a jerk, you called him,"Turdnando".
Moybe you think that's somehow less insulting than jerk. You and others who comment on these stories need to learn that you can disagree with someone without insulting them. What do you think this is, sports radio?
I had a petition in our housing area as well all signed it to stop the road that opens to no where. I talked to the deputy commissioner today and if he can find Rhinehart he will talk to him and find out who wanted the road since no one can seem to come up with a name. There is no way this project will cost $40K and is the other commissioners believe that guess who should be looking for work next election. It is time we put a stop to misuse of our tax dollars. If the roads and bridges in OK County were even close to good shape I might not complain, but drive down Britten Road and cross that lovely bridge that should have been closed 20 years ago. FIX THE ROADS and quit building new ones that lead to no where....
yeah, build a road that goes nowhere and costs the city $40000, which is a seriously understatement of the price, either that or it's a short two lane road
.....well i agree with scott, jan, cindy, floyd and fernando!!!!....I say build! build! build!...Pave that black beauty!... kill the annoyin song birds!.... die peckers die!!!
$40,000??! Don't we have bridges to fix and roads to repair? Especially when the road is not wanted by the 16 homeowners who live in the area. And especially if they don't need it? AND are petitioning against it?! Don't we have better things to SPEND on?
Fernando, ironic that you are giving spelling lessons, when your grammar is suffering as much. It's 'pay THOSE landowners'....if you want to be nit-picky.
It has much less to do with endangered animals, or even the city taking property from landowners (regardless of reimbursement). It has much more to do with any city, state or county employee not following regulations and guidelines for construction. Was there a need for a permit? Why was a county commissioner allowed to start construction without said permit? What will the consequence be if he is found to be working without a permit? Will he be held to the same standards as the average citizen?
As much as I dislike Rinehart, he is only one of THREE commissioners. They all had to agree with it - or at least one of the others so there would be a majority - so if people are really upset, I would highly recommend calling the offices of EVERY Oklahoma County Commissioner and demanding it be put BACK on an agenda and voted down. With the complaints about not being able to "fix our roads and bridges" so loud, why would they waste even one cent of tax money to build a road that goes nowhere and that no one wants? I smell kickback.
Is there no limit to the unwarranted arrogance of Brent Rinehart? Shouldn't he realize at some point in his (supposedly) adult life that if everyone else involved in a decision disagrees with him, it's just possible that he's wrong?
Chris, Jones, I too disagree with Fernando, I think his comment is, at best, poorly thought through. But, I don't think that's any reason to insult him. He's simply profoundly wrong. That doesn't make him a jerk.
I used to live there....It's a fantastically beautiful and wild area. I hope the residents are successful in their efforts to stop the unwanted development.
I agree with Free...it's unnecessary & unwanted by the people that live there!
My comment was not so much about the species as much as the worthless leaders who direct our dollars to stupid jobs like this and the fact that if I owned property and city just decides they want to put in a road I would be screaming to. But Fernando I wouldnt expect you to see that side, obviously you own nothing and we(tax payers) probalby take care of you so .. you would see $ signs instead of the bigger picture.
Do we really need concrete or asphalt on every square inch of the planet? For what purpose is this road needed; who needs to someplace on that road? Most of all, who in their right mind is willing to do anything with Rinehart's stamp on it?
Fernando, I'd check on the "I could care less" part of your statement. If you could care less, then you must care some. Obviously, you do not. Care some. And I disagree with your assessment of the endangered species. I've caught many a trophy fish on those Arkansas shiners and that's the only way I want them endangered. I love watching the noodlers explode from the water when their hands confront the alligator snapping turtle instead of the catfish they were expecting. What does the chicken turtle taste like?
Cindy, stop crying and let them work on the road. I could care less for those endangered species and pay them landowners for the part of their properties taken from them. Period. Cindy it is spelled "Thieves" not THEIFS.
Theifs....somewhere down the road lies money in Rineharts pocket to get it done before he leaves office.. Of all the horrible roads and briges we have our elected officials are wasting this money on a road to nowhere to build house or business that at the PRESENT time = losses. Wonder how much was spent on the bike trail in Oklahoma city
by Trosper park.. worthless stupid.. Midwest City is installing sprinkles in an intersection.. for WHAT. There are empty business establishments everywhere.. not to mention all the empty houses.
WHY BUILD AND DISRUPT THIS LAND.PRAYING someone can stop the process
Rinehart's term marked by political contention
Controversy has marked Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart’s term from the start, with allegations during his 2004 campaign that he pushed a development through the Oklahoma City council as a favor for a major contributor. That contributor, Jerl Methvin, was also involved in separate controversy that saw Rinehart and his former campaign manager, Tim Pope, charged with multiple felonies involving his campaign finances. Following a story in The Oklahoman pointing out possible campaign finance violations, prosecutors charged the two men, claiming they sought donations from Methvin and two other contributors that exceeded the $5,000 limit and conspired to hide those donations. The case is still pending in Oklahoma County District Court.
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