Depew annexes Route 66 Biker Park land

Trustees for the town of Depew, Okla., voted on July 28 to annex 120 acres several miles from the town that includes Charles Elliott’s Route 66 Biker Park, pending approval by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, reported the Sapulpa Daily Herald.

The only remaining hurdle is ODOT allowing Elliott the mow the right-of-way next to Oklahoma Highway 66. Elliott has said he would take over that responsibility, if needed.

The Elliott property has been a bone of contention with the county over several zoning issues after Elliott decided to transform his property into a recreational campground area. […]

At this hearing Elliott indicated that he had spent $500,000 on improvements to the property, and vehemently denied allegations that his property would bring down real estate values for the surrounding area. At the hearing Elliott indicated that he foresaw musical concerts on the property and a “bikers’ church.”

The “bone of contention” sprung from Elliott’s Route 66 Biker Park hosting such rowdy parties — including topless karaoke — that neighbors complained. Creek County authorities stepped in and ended the big bashes. Elliott claimed he wasn’t subject to county rules regarding large gatherings because his property was set up as a church. He filed lawsuits against the county, which went nowhere.

So Elliott essentially skirted around county rules by persuading Depew to annex his land, putting it under the town’s jurisdiction instead.

Here’s something curious that reportedly happened next:

Immediately following the Trustee meeting, an Emergency Meeting was called. This second meeting was made in order to lawfully accept a donation of $24,000 from Metro Machine Inc., which is owned by Elliott.

Depew was in need of a police patrol vehicle, Elliott’s timely gift will provide for the purchase of a 2009 Dodge Charger police special from a firm operating from the state of Utah.

So Depew needed a vehicle to patrol that newly annexed area that’s four miles from town. Elliott obliged.

I doubt, however, whether this “emergency” meeting was lawful. The Oklahoma Open Meeting Act spells out the criteria:

5. “Emergency meeting” means any meeting called for the purpose of dealing with an emergency. For purposes of this act, an emergency is defined as a situation involving injury to persons or injury and damage to public or personal property or immediate financial loss when the time requirements for public notice of a special meeting would make such procedure impractical and increase the likelihood of injury or damage or immediate financial loss;

Perhaps a lawyer can chime in here and explain the legal contortions required to make this emergency meeting legal. But it’s hard to see how it could be. In Oklahoma, public bodies are required to give 48 hours of public notice before a meeting.