North Tulsa residents press council over Lansing easement closures, say community was excluded

Summary

Public commenters told the Tulsa City Council they and the federal entitlement community were not included in planning for utility and overland easement closures in North Tulsa, citing long-standing infrastructure and public-health complaints; the council approved the easement and alley items as a package.

North Tulsa residents urged the Tulsa City Council on Jan. 15, 2025 to include the neighborhood in planning for utility and overland-easement closures tied to future development, saying long-standing infrastructure and health issues in the area have not been addressed.

“It's troubling because when you're making decisions such as the ones my husband was just talking about, you're not including the committee, the community,” Bernice Alexander said during the meeting’s public-comment period. Alexander said the area is a “federal entitlement area” and that residents who live there are supposed to participate in planning tied to federal block grants and other neighborhood funds.

James Alexander told the council he has repeatedly raised concerns about proposed easement closures on Lansing, saying the neighborhood’s residents were not included in the planning process and that past promises to repair streets and fix raw-sewage and groundwater issues have…

North Tulsa residents press council over Lansing easement closures, say community was excluded

Summary

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