Jenks council approves transfer of 0.78 acres to Jenks Public Schools for tennis expansion

The Jenks City Council on Sept. 16 approved Resolution 880 to declare 0.78 acres near Jenks High School surplus and convey the parcel to Jenks Public Schools so the district can expand its tennis facility and add parking.

City staff said the school plans a two‑story expansion with locker rooms, offices and viewing areas that will extend south into the existing parking lot; the district also intends to relocate a small retention pond into the conveyed property and build a new, slightly larger detention pond to handle runoff from the expanded lot and adjacent streets.

The transfer drew questions from council members about stormwater impacts on nearby residences and about costs and oversight. Staff told the council the parcel previously served as a landfill and that school investigators found up to 8–10 feet of material that likely must be removed; the city estimated removal at between $50,000 and $100,000. Staff said the new pond would be piped and sodded so its banks can be maintained more easily than the existing rip‑rap embankment.

A city staff presenter said the agreement with the district makes the school responsible for maintaining the relocated pond. “The agreement that we have with them says that they will maintain the pond,” the presenter said during discussion.

Council members asked how close excavation would come to property lines for homes on First Street and whether the pond would hold standing water. Staff said an engineering layout includes estimated square footage and depths, and that percolation there was initially estimated at about 15 inches per hour (staff said some data show rates could be twice that), but that true conditions would be confirmed only after excavation and testing.

Staff also noted the city enforces state stormwater criteria and inspects detention basins; the city will review the project during permitting and construction, though most design and construction responsibility rests with the district and its contractor. A representative from the schools was present, but the council did not take additional public comment specifically on the conveyance because the item was a surplus‑property declaration.

On a voice roll call the motion passed with five yes votes, one abstention and one member not present; Vice Mayor Brown recorded an abstention. The resolution authorizes conveyance to Jenks Public Schools; staff will notify the community as the project proceeds and as permitting occurs.

City staff identified remaining next steps as site excavation, hydrology/percolation confirmation during construction documents, and standard city inspection of detention facilities as part of later permitting. The council did not set a construction start date as part of the resolution.