Auction Of Bacone College In Muskogee Postponed Amidst Lawsuit

The President of Bacone College in Muskogee said she's not sure what's next after the school was supposed to be auctioned off Thursday but was called off at the last minute. 

The auction was set after an HVAC company sued Bacone, saying they did more than $1 million of work but never got paid. 

The president said she learned it was canceled late Wednesday and for now, she's just grateful they get to keep the land. 

Bacone College has 143 years of history and serves Native American and minority students in Muskogee.

“We wanna be the premiere institute for art and humanities," Dr. Nicky Michael said. 

Dr. Nicky Michael is the Interim President and took over last year.

She says things were already bad when she got here, with issues like mold and heating.

She was also aware that the college had been sued by a Utah-based company called Midgley-Huber Energy Concepts.

Michael says Bacone contracted with the company for heating, A/C, lighting and other upgrades several years ago, and when the college couldn’t pay—MHEC sued.

The company said it finished all the work but Bacone said several projects were not finished.

“When the ruling came, we were shocked because of that very reason," Michael said. 

The original sheriff’s office auction was set for April, but it too was canceled. 

It was reset for today and lawyers for the company sent a letter to the Sheriff's office Wednesday, saying it was canceled but not why.

Michael said the school owes the company about $1.6 million.

Bacone College is empty now with open classrooms a reminder of what was once a thriving place of education, one that leaders say is still in jeopardy.

“Most of our seniors are really concerned and rightfully so," Michael said.

Dr. Michael said the school had to lay off 45 instructors and postpone Spring classes.

She said there are fewer than 100 students and the school is working to ind solutions or transfer the ones left.

She said bringing Bacone to its former glory will take a lot of financial help or a miracle.

"We’re survivors and we’re going to continue," she said.

News 9 has repeatedly called and emailed the company but have not heard back yet.