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Residents push for transparency after council holds executive session on economic development; JEDA continues letter of intent
Summary
A public commenter questioned the use of an executive session after an agenda notice indicated the city might buy downtown property for $20 million; council later said no votes were taken in executive session and the Jenks Economic Development Authority continued a letter of intent to its next meeting.
A pair of public comments at the Jenks meetings raised questions about transparency after an agenda‑listed executive session related to economic development. Councilors later entered and exited executive session, saying no votes were taken in closed session; the Jenks Economic Development Authority (JEDA) moved to continue consideration of a letter of intent on a downtown parcel to its next meeting.
Resident Justin Little said he received a letter of intent the morning of the meeting indicating the city planned to purchase property described as “village or main properties,” including retail space and a parking garage, for $20,000,000. Little asked why the subject was discussed in executive session and argued such a purchase “needs to be brought to the public.” He also raised questions about whether the property had been part of a TIF intended to drive sales tax and whether past agreements with the same developer had affected public access to other municipal properties.
Vice Mayor John Brown responded to public comments and led the council through a formal motion into executive session for economic development, citing legal grounds that public disclosure could interfere with business development. Council members then approved a motion to enter executive session by roll call. After the executive session, council announced, “No votes or actions were taken during the executive session.”
At the Jenks Economic Development Authority meeting later in the evening, a motion was made and approved to continue consideration of the letter of intent to purchase property near Riverfront Drive and Aquarium Place to the JEDA’s next meeting on June 17; that continuance passed by roll call.
Public commenters urged that the city provide more detail to residents about the planned transaction, the relationship with prior developers and whether TIF proceeds were involved. City staff did not disclose additional details at the meeting and indicated the item would return for further public consideration at the continued meeting date.
