Tulsa County Disputes City Of Tulsa Utility Bill

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA COUNTY -- Tulsa County isn't paying a city of Tulsa utility bill that's $216,000 past due. Tulsa County insists it doesn't owe the money.

It's past due utility bills for the fairgrounds and it's another misunderstanding that started with the annexation. 

City councilors are pushing for the money, while the county has a legal opinion that it doesn't have to pay.

Tulsa County is disputing utility bills for the fairgrounds since it was annexed by the city. The bills cover trash service and fees for storm water runoff. Several city councilors are pushing for the county to pay up.

"Who is responsible to the citizens of Tulsa to see that this gets collected," asked Bill Christiansen, Tulsa City Councilor.

Tulsa County believes it doesn't owe the city anything, because of an agreement between the two governments.

"This was a part of that agreement that both sides agreed to," said John Smaligo, Tulsa County Commissioner.

Since the annexation, the county has been paying its water bill. That's a city utility easily measured by the gallon. But the county disputes the storm water fees, even though every drop that drains off the fairgrounds goes right into the city's system.

Tulsa County pays the water and sewer bills, but has a $201,000 outstanding bill for storm water and a $15,000 bill for trash.

The county points out the city doesn't pick up the trash at Expo Square, which is handled by a commercial hauler.

"Expo Square, we purchase our water from the city of Tulsa, we pay for that every month, it's just the storm water runoff we're being assessed a fee for that we believe is covered by the memorandum of agreement that was approved by the mayor at the time," said Smaligo.

While the council continues to push for a resolution, for now the talks are between the county and the mayor's office.

Read the Memorandum of Understanding.

According to the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County is past due on three utility accounts:

• 10479705-Tulsa County Fairgrounds, 4100 E. 15th Street

Balance: $29,843.36, of which $28,145.64 is past due

Past due is primarily refuse ($15,000) and storm water ($13,000).

• 10368015-Tulsa State Fair, 4536 E. 15th Street

Balance: $35,174.34, of which $30,564.30 is past due

Past due is storm water.

• 10368018-Tulsa County Fairgrounds, 3923 E. 21st Street

Balance: $174,413.92, of which $157,177.35 is past due

Past due is storm water.

Balance on the three accounts is $239,431.62. Total past due is $215,887.29. Of the past due, $201,000 is storm water and $15,000 is refuse. No late fees have been assessed since balances are in dispute.

Last year, the county argued the city should supply police to patrol the Tulsa State Fair, because of the annexation. The city refused and the county continued using sheriff's deputies for the fair.

03/26/2010  Related Story: Tulsa County Disappointed In City's Rejection Of Cooperation Pact

10/11/2009  Related Story: Tulsa State Fair Security Reports Quiet Year