History repeated itself in Del City Monday.
Just like planning and zoning commissioners did last month, councilmembers shut down a rezoning request to turn a church located in a residential neighborhood into a private correctional facility.
One-by-one the city’s four councilmembers voted to deny the application request made by partners Howard Memorial Baptist Church and Center Point, Inc. which operates 17 correctional programs in four states.
Mayor Brian Linley delivered the final vote, saying, “Your mayor votes aye. Application denied.”
A bang of the mayor’s gavel ended the council’s discussion on the highly debated, sometimes emotional issue, shutting down the church’s hopes of creating a prison ministry with co-applicant Center Point, Inc.
If approved, the rezoning application would have paved the way for Center Point, Inc. to relocate their south Oklahoma City facility to the Del City church for the rehabilitation of up to 200 inmates preparing to leave prison.
The two parties also had an agreement for the church’s pastor, Andrew Mericle, to serve as chaplain to Center Point inmates and to lease the church building for $1 annually for 20 years. In return, Center Point would build a new church for Howard Memorial to the east of their current location at 4216 E. Reno Avenue.
Fight to the end
While much of Monday’s council meeting resembled the city’s June 28 planning and zoning meeting, Center Point had one new advocate speak in its favor.
Jerry Monroe, who sits on Center Point’s Oklahoma City community advisory board, told the council he was not always on board with the organization, but today he has no complaints about them.
Monroe also said he did not want to see them move from their Interstate 35 location near Frontier State Bank, where he works as executive vice president.
“If you think economic development will cease because of this, that is false,” Monroe said.
Councilmembers also heard from a more neutral voice when an Oklahoma Department of Corrections representative fielded questions.
The representative explained why private correctional facilities do not call on local law enforcement whenever there is illegal activity, like drug usage. He said organizations like Center Point normally handle the situation themselves and if needed, call upon the corrections department for assistance.
All incidents, though, are reported to the DOC.
During Monday’s meeting, Linley pointed out if anyone outside of Center Point was found with drugs on them, they would go to jail.
“They are kind of getting a free pass,” Linley said of the private correctional inmates.
Center Point responded that relapse often makes up part of an inmate’s road to recovery.
Residents living near the church also put up a final fight against the rezoning and proposed correctional facility. Although not as many attended the meeting as did on June 28, residents commented they would fear for their safety, and a residential neighborhood with a school, daycare and park was no place for a prison.
Howard Memorial church members made their own plea to councilmembers, asking for the opportunity to minister to the inmates, which they believe is their church’s newfound calling.
“This is an opportunity to make the community a better place,” one member said. Another member said, “We will not reach everyone, but it can be an eternal change.”
“The church is an upstanding member of the community… we are a body of believers that decided to minister but it’s up to you,” Pastor Mericle told the council.
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