Kingfisher County commissioners are asking the State Legislature to vote down House Bill 2150 they say will further reduce county authority over rights-of-way.

Commissioners sent the following letter to House members:

The Board of County Commissioners of Kingfisher County oppose HB 2150.  Below are some important points to take into consideration before you vote on this legislation.

• Passage of HB 2150 would take statutory authority and exclusive jurisdiction away from all 77 Counties found in Title 69; effectively overturning 51 years of statutory authority at the demand of one private industry.

• Passage of this Bill would unnecessarily create contradictory and competitive statutes between the proposed Title 52 § 137.2 and Title 69 § 101 (g), forcing legal challenges.

•Title 69 § 101 (g) clearly and absolutely gives Counties the same authority over the county road system as ODOT has over the state highway system to include: 69 O.S. § 222; 69 O.S. 601 (A); 69 O.S. 1401 (B); and 2012 OK AG 10; 2003 OK AG 10; 1982 OK AG 1.

•Passage of this Bill would directly affect public peace, health and safety, and our contribution to the national defense as codified in Title 69 § 101 (i).

•Passage of this Bill would grant the OCC extra-ordinary authority over County roads and bridges, which it legally cannot possess.

•Passage of this Bill is one industry’s attempt to have access to a corrupted version of eminent domain, which it is not legally afforded.

•Passage of this Bill would be in direct conflict with Article 16 §1 &2 and the statutes created under that Constitutional authority.

•Passage of this Bill would create an environment where private industry would have superior rights over land owners concerning the right-of-way easement.

Will anyone support the Constitution and the current laws of the State of Oklahoma?  Please pass this message to all of your colleagues and please stand for the people of Oklahoma!  Vote NO!

Thank you,

Kingfisher BOCC