Council gives OK for Phoenix Park sale, $7 million donation from Cherokee Nation

The Tahlequah City Council, during a Friday, July 19 special meeting, gave approval for the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding with Cherokee Nation pertaining to the sale of Phoenix Park and a $7 million donation for the expansion of Anthis-Brennan Park.

City Administrator Taylor Tannehill said the sale of Phoenix Park to Cherokee Nation is $1 and a beneficiary payment of $7 million for the purpose of constructing four ball fields.

"Some of their conditions within the MOU include the naming rights by the Cherokee Nation, prohibition on advertising by a competitor of any wholly owned or controlled business or nonprofit of the Cherokee Nation, legal interest in the property in the form of a first right of refusal, complimentary usage of the softball/baseball fields including but not limited to the Cherokee National Holiday, and complimentary advertising," Tannehill said.

Additionally, the city agrees to provide $40,000 to the CN Housing Authority to pay for .5 of a comprehensive housing study for Cherokee County, conduct an in-depth homeless study in Tahlequah and the final report is to be provided to the Cherokee Nation, provide $170,000 to the Cherokee Nation to offset year one operational costs of a new homeless shelter that is to be built on the Phoenix Park property.

Ward 4 Councilor Josh Allen made a motion to approve the authorization while Ward 3 Councilor Stephen Highers seconded.

Council gave its nod the negotiation of an agreement with Hellas for the expansion of Anthis-Brennan Park.

"You do have a quote for the construction for four additional ball fields with the use of turf as well as making the existing softball fields at Anthis-Brennan Park turf as well. One thing I want to make clear is the intent of this agenda item is not necessarily to approve the quote that's in front of you, but to give some limits to the mayor of the negotiation. If the council so chooses to allow the mayor to sign that, I think that's perfectly fine; however, we can bring this back to council upon a final proposal," he said.

The proposed bid from Hellas is $11,150,929 for the ball field expansion; $8,698,700 for baseball fields; $2,452,229 for softball fields.

"Obviously the [previous] agenda item, $7 million, that will be a part of funding for this project. The remaining part of that will be funded through the 2013 bond. We're reviewed the requirements of the bond, the projects listed on that and a part of that was the expansion of Anthis-Brennan Park. We have spent some money from the bond on Anthis-Brennan Park already and this will just add to that," Tannehill said. "Also, there's about $550,000 in the [American Rescue Plan Act] funds this is earmarked for sports complex improvements."

In other business, Mayor Suzanne Myers was given approval to enter the city into a real estate agreement with Redhawk Inn, LLC for the sale of property at 124 Shawnee St. The mayor was also given the go-ahead to begin the negotiation of purchasing property in the Business & Technology Park from the Tahlequah Regional Development Authority.

What's next

The next Tahlequah City Council meeting is Monday, Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.