Council authorizes manager to negotiate land split, de‑annexation with Expo authority

The McAlester City Council voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate a proposed land division and de‑annexation involving the Pittsburg County Regional Expo Authority, council members said during the meeting.

City staff said the authority owns a large parcel that runs roughly from the new church to near Newbaker Road. Under the concept described to the council, the authority’s property would be split: the county would take title to the Expo itself while the city would assume control of lands the city already uses, such as softball fields, an archery range and nearby maintenance facilities, and the lake surrounding them. ‘‘They have approached us on a deal to possibly separate that out where the city would take control over lands that we already actively use,’’ a staff presenter said.

The policy reason offered for the proposed split was that the Expo Authority currently struggles to obtain and afford required liability insurance and has no clear funding mechanism to carry insurance or other ongoing expenses. Staff said dissolving or reorganizing the authority and assigning ownership of parcels to the county or city would address that funding and liability problem.

Council members asked procedural and scope questions: what exact acreage would move, how far annexation limits would extend on the west side, who would represent the county on any successor board, and whether stormwater responsibilities would be resolved in negotiations. Staff repeatedly said they were seeking authority to negotiate only, not to finalize or execute any conveyance without later council and county approval. ‘‘I cannot approve anything by myself… All this is doing is just giving me the authority to go and negotiate,’’ the presenter said.

Councilor Boatwright moved to give the manager negotiating authority; Councilor Stone seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded unanimous support and the motion carried.

The council did not adopt a final division map or set of terms; staff said a formal proposal would return to the council and to the Pittsburg County Commissioners for approval if negotiations proceed.