Norman petitioners want OK Supreme Court to hear entertainment district funding case
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — A group advocating against a taxpayer funded plan to help build a billion dollar entertainment district in Norman plans to appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to send the issue to a public vote.
Oklahomans For Responsible Economic Development started the referendum petition process in 2024 after the Norman City Council voted 5-4 to move forward with an agreement that would see the project partly funded by two Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIFs). The vote came after at least seven hours of debate that lasted into the early hours of the morning.
The project would include a new arena for OU athletics, retail, housing, and office space near I-35 and Rock Creek Road.
Update: Decision on Norman's proposed $1.1B Rock Creek Entertainment district goes to court
The first TIF uses sales tax, while the second is an ad valorem tax. The University of Oklahoma is also funding part of the project.
Opponents have made it clear that they don't oppose the project itself, just the funding plan. OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. encouraged the city council to say yes regardless last year.
'You either get on board and invest or you get left behind,' Harroz said during a September council meeting.
The petition to send the issue to a vote of the people received over 10,000 signatures in less than 30 days, but opponents of the TIF funding plan were sued regardless.
An initial argument for attorneys representing individuals in favor of the TIF first tried to contest the signatures themselves, arguing that the gist of the petition wasn't legally sufficient to send it to a vote of the people.
That argument, challenging the validity of the signatures, was dropped this month, but a Cleveland County District Judge ruled the gist of the petition wasn't legally sufficient, meaning the issue couldn't go to a vote.
'We could've written a thousand gists here and it was gonna be challenged,' said Rob Norman, attorney for ORED members sued after the petition. 'This is a journey.'
He explained on Friday, in front of a room packed full of dozens of Norman citizens, that his clients believe voters deserve to have their voices heard, saying that Oklahoma's constitution guarantees the right to a referendum petition by the people. Norman says he has less than 30 days to file an appeal on his client's behalf, but it's not done yet.
He said he didn't want to say much about what it would include, but made several pointed comments about the gist debate.
'If you really want to know what the real gist is, we want to bring this to a vote of the people and that's all,' said Norman.
Norman says he's hoping the appeal will get the attention of Oklahoma's highest court, which could decide whether or not they'll hear it personally or if the case will be heard at all.
'We're gonna ask the Oklahoma Supreme Court to keep it,' said Norman. 'They're gonna see the briefs and they're gonna see all this picking it apart, lawyering it to death…Our fate is the hands of the judges.'
News 4 reached out to the attorneys representing challengers of the petition for comment on the appeal, but did not hear back.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland named Employee of the Quarter
City Administrator Steve Miller presented Police Chief Jason McFarland with the Employee of the Quarter award during a recent Effingham city council meeting. Nominated by Deputy Chief Kurt Davis, McFarland is a fourth generation law enforcement officer, and he has over 20 years of service working with the Effingham Police Department. McFarland's initiatives as a law enforcement officer include developing a fentanyl response plan, obtaining officer safety equipment, recruitment and retention for implementing training for dispatchers with post traumatic stress disorder and partnering with addiction experts to create a model for narcotics-related calls. 'Chief McFarland exemplifies the highest standards of leadership, dedication and service. His forward thinking initiatives, commitment to officers and community wellness and proactive approach to modern policing have made a lasting impact on both the department and the broader Effingham community,' said Miller. 'His tireless work and unwavering commitment to excellence make him a truly deserving recipient of the Employee of the Quarter award.' Everything McFarland has done for the department has been outstanding, especially some of the programs he's put in place, said Miller. 'Thank you very, very much. Thanks for the council, and thanks for the committee that authorized this,' said McFarland. 'I sat on that committee, and we always joke very seriously when we have our meetings that we're grateful to have so many qualified employees to choose from with these awards. So it reflects well on the city as a whole, so thank you.' In other business, Wright at Home owner John Wright wants to relocate his business to the two city lots between S. Willow Street and S. 1st Street. The appraised value of each lot is $190,000, and Wright at Home wants to build a 9,750 square foot facility on them. 'If we get approval and get the purchase, a local builder is actually giving us final numbers right now. We would start probably right away,' said Wright. 'I think they were telling me it takes about three-and-a-half to four months to get a building, a steel structure. They told me they can get right on it.' Wright hopes to have the project completed by this time next year. 'I think that'd be a nice improvement to that corner and welcoming to that area,' said Mayor Mike Schutzbach. 'We've been very picky as to what presentation we wanted as you enter within our community. I think that would be perfect.' 'We've been waiting a long time to get the right look,' said City Commissioner Hank Stephens. 'We really got the right business.' If everything goes smoothly, the item will be on the next meeting's agenda. Meanwhile, Economic Development Director Todd Hull informed the council that Home City Ice's owner, Fritz Krampe, wants to make improvements to both the inside and the outside of the building by utilizing the TIF program. The outside improvements would total $228,460, but only $84,867 would qualify under the program. Therefore, the city would contribute $21,216.75, or 25 percent. 'I think that would be a very good improvement to that area. He's cleaned up that front building,' said Hull. 'He's already made a lot of improvements.' The Office Pub also wants to make improvements while utilizing the TIF program. The pub wants to do masonry work, reinforce a wall, paint and more. The total cost is $14,100, so the city would contribute $3,525 towards the project. The item will be on the next meeting's agenda. Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman brought a proposal to the council from Milano & Grunloh Engineers to redesign and add another 200 parking spaces to the Thelma Keller Convention Center. Preliminary engineering would cost $40,000, and construction engineering would cost $30,000. This money would come from the hotel-motel fund. 'Currently, the convention center does not have enough parking to fulfill the obligation of our zoning or planning ordinance, and this would help move it in that direction,' said Schutzbach. Heuerman informed the council of a bid for sanitary sewer improvements on Mt. Vernon Street and Jaycee Avenue in the amount of $579,750 from A&R Mechanical Services. At first, they received no bids, so Heuerman reached out to multiple contractors for quotes. He received one from A&R Mechanical Services and one from B&T Drainage; A&R was the lower of the two. 'This was a little bit over our budgeted allowance out of the sewer fund, but we do have other projects that will not be happening this year,' said Heuerman. 'So there are funds in the sewer fund to authorize this.' Lastly, Schutzbach appointed Scott Ealy to the Tourism Advisory Board with a three-year term expiring May 1, 2028. The next Effingham City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17 at 5 p.m. in the council chambers.
USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
Greg McElroy thinks Oklahoma has a Top 10 defense in college football
If the Oklahoma Sooners got one thing right last year, it was their defense. After years of clamoring for better play on that side of the ball, Sooner Nation got to watch arguably the best defense OU has produced in a decade and a half. Head coach Brent Venables has engineered a total turnaround on defense in Norman. The only problem was, Oklahoma's offense, which hadn't been the problem in years, fell off a cliff in 2024. The Sooners couldn't put enough points on the board. Despite a very good defense, OU fell to a 6-7 record. While there have been a lot of changes made to the offensive side of the ball, there's a lot of continuity on defense for the Sooners. Key contributors like Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Ethan Downs, and Da'Jon Terry have moved on to the NFL, but Oklahoma returns plenty of starters. With defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Zac Alley leaving to take the same job at West Virginia, Venables decided to take control of the defense himself this year. He'll call the plays in addition to all of his duties as the head coach. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Greg McElroy, who hosts the "Always College Football with Greg McElroy" podcast, and is a college football color commentator for ESPN, believes that Oklahoma has one of the top ten defenses in the country heading into 2025. He ranks the Sooners as the No. 7 defense in the nation as we approach the fall. The former national championship-winning quarterback of the 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide pointed out that OU returns 60 percent of their defensive production from last year, when they ranked 19th in total defense. He thinks that with Venables taking command of the defense, the Sooners will be even better. Now I think this group has a chance to be the most improved group in the country from where they were a year ago. Part of why I'm so optimistic about Oklahoma, not just on offense but also on defense, is because of coach Brent Venables. He he got the job at Oklahoma because of how good he is as a defensive play caller. Well he's now taking over as the primary play caller. Now this was a strategic decision to take over the duties and he has widely been considered one of the best minds in college football for a really long time. He's got two national championships as a defensive coordinator at Clemson to to show for it. He also obviously had a great stint at Oklahoma as well. Then I think he's going to be just fine. They're going to attack. They're going to be aggressive and they're going to have a great understanding of what the opponent's offense is going to be doing from week to week. - McElroy, The Always College Football Podcast At defensive tackle, coached by Todd Bates, Oklahoma has a strong two-deep of Jayden Jackson, Damonic Williams, Gracen Halton, and David Stone. That group might be the strength of the entire team, a stark contrast from what Venables inherited when he arrived in Norman. The defensive ends will be led by the returning R Mason Thomas, who decided not to enter the NFL Draft or the transfer portal and instead stayed at OU this year. He had nine sacks last season, six of which came in SEC play. He's the team's best pass rusher and will be counted upon to carry more of the load this year. Coach Miguel Chavis has Marvin Jones Jr., Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye, and Taylor Wein competing for snaps on the other side of the line. Jones and Adebawore are looking for breakout seasons. Venables hired Nate Dreiling as his new inside linebackers coach and Wes Goodwin as his new assistant linebackers coach and outside linebackers coach. Both coaches have experience as defensive coordinators. The Sooners will have plenty of versatility when it comes to the linebacker spots in 2025. Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie are in line to start at the inside spots, and Sammy Omosigho will play plenty as well. At cheetah, Kendel Dolby returns to a position he's excellent at, and Kendal Daniels, who figures to play inside some as well, arrives via the transfer portal. Omosigho has plenty of experience playing the cheetah role as well. There are plenty of younger players who could get snaps at cheetah as the season progresses as well. Jay Valai's cornerbacks need to stay healthy this year, as Eli Bowen returns after an excellent true freshman season. He was in a boot this spring, and the Sooners need him on the field on the outside. Gentry Willams can boost this defense even higher if he's healthy, but he missed almost the entire 2024 season due to injury. Jacobe Johnson is in line for plenty of snaps, as the local product could be a starter if Williams can't make it on the field. Devon Jordan could also get more reps if injuries continue to plague this position group. At safety, coach Brandon Hall returns the duo of Robert Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen. Both players had solid seasons last year. It's a young group behind them, as Jaydan Hardy, Reggie Powers III and Michael Boganowski are waiting for their turn to make an impact. Venables is regarded as one of college football's best defensive play-callers. He's assembled a very deep staff of Bates, Chavis, Dreiling, Goodwin, Valai and Hall to back him up and play to their individual strengths. With Venables in charge and plenty of returning standouts, the ingredients are in place for Oklahoma to have one of the best defenses in all of college football in 2025.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Foraxi Introduces the World's First Trading Fund Insurance Plan to Empower Global Forex Traders
DUBAI, UAE, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Foraxi, a leading global Forex trading platform, has announced the launch of the world's first Trading Fund Insurance Plan, marking a significant milestone in the financial trading industry. This innovative plan aims to provide traders with unprecedented protection, allowing them to engage in the Forex market with enhanced confidence and financial security. The Trading Fund Insurance Plan is designed to mitigate trading risks by offering a unique safety net. Under this plan, traders who open a TIF Account with a minimum deposit of $1,000 and complete 25 lots on XAUUSD will receive their initial deposit refunded if they incur a loss after completing the required trading volume. The refund is fully withdrawable, with no hidden conditions attached. "Foraxi's Trading Fund Insurance Plan underscores our commitment to providing traders with a reliable and transparent platform," said a Foraxi spokesperson. "We understand the challenges traders face in the global markets, and this plan is designed to empower them with a secure environment to trade confidently." Key features of the Trading Fund Insurance Plan include: Flexible Profit Withdrawals — Traders can withdraw profits at any time, without restrictions. No Capital Lock-In — Users maintain full control over their funds, with real-time monitoring and transparency. Scalable Lot Requirements — Options include 25 lots for $1,000 or 250 lots for $10,000, offering flexibility for traders of all levels. No Hidden Terms or Conditions — The plan is fully transparent and trader-friendly. The launch of this plan represents Foraxi's dedication to supporting both novice and experienced traders in navigating the complexities of the Forex market. The platform's intuitive design and innovative features position it as a trusted partner for traders worldwide. For more information about the Trading Fund Insurance Plan and how to get started, users can visit About Foraxi Foraxi is a global Forex trading platform committed to delivering a transparent, secure, and user-friendly experience. The company offers a range of innovative features, including instant deposits and withdrawals, competitive IB commissions, and advanced trading solutions to help traders succeed in today's dynamic markets. ContactGOURAV BHARDWAJForaxi markets Ltdinfo@ Logo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Foraxi Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
