By Bailey Coyle, Fox23 News
SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — A group of residents in Sand Springs is working to recall every member of the city council, saying concerns about transparency and a proposed data center project pushed them to take action.
The group, called Protect Sand Springs Alliance, formed after residents learned more about plans connected to a proposed data center development.
“It’s a group that was formed really early basically right after we found out about the data center going on out there,” said Kyle Schmidt, president of the alliance. “We are a small group of residents up there, but we wanted to have an impact beyond just our neighborhood.”
Schmidt said the group chose its name to reflect broader goals.
“We named it Protect Sand Springs Alliance so that we can help residents of Sand Springs even after this fight is over,” he said.
Concerns over transparency
Schmidt said frustration grew as residents learned more about how the data center project moved forward.
“As we discovered more and more about what happened behind the scenes to make this data center happen, we saw more and more evidence that things were done improperly,” Schmidt said. “Citizens were not represented. City council just pushed and pushed and ran this through and did not listen.”
Schmidt said that led the group to believe the only way to bring change was through new leadership.
“We just decided the only way to really have change and get a representative voice for the people would be to change out the city councilors,” he said.
He also pointed to the city’s decision to annex land for the project as a turning point.
“Starting off with the annexation and annexing that piece of land so far from the city, then even after the lawsuit was filed, they just kept pushing,” Schmidt said.
What the recall would do
Schmidt emphasized the recall effort would not automatically remove council members from office.
“This doesn’t automatically kick them out of office,” Schmidt said. “It just brings up a new election where people can decide who they want to keep.”
If the group gathers enough signatures, a new election would be triggered where incumbents could run again and challengers could file to run.
Schmidt said the group expects that election could happen during the June 16 election cycle, depending on the verification process.
Signature goals
The number of signatures required varies by ward. Schmidt said the group has already collected several hundred signatures.
The group needs 344 signatures in Ward 1 and up to 541 signatures in Ward 4, according to Schmidt. However, organizers say they are aiming higher in case some signatures are challenged.
“We are really hoping to get well over 500 for every ward,” Schmidt said. “Ward 4 we really want 650 to 700.”
Residents can sign petitions at organized events where volunteers verify addresses and voter registration before directing them to the correct ward petition.
What residents want to change
Schmidt said the effort is about more than the data center.
“Our two biggest concerns are the site of the data center — it just doesn’t belong up there, it belongs in an industrial park,” he said.
He also said the group wants more transparency and community involvement in major development decisions.
Among the changes the group would like to see:
- More community input on major projects
- City council meetings being transcribed and livestreamed
- Greater transparency and engagement with residents
“A lot more transparency, a lot more engagement with citizens and a more thoughtful process when implementing massive development moving forward,” Schmidt said.
Mayor responds
Mayor Jim Spoon sent FOX23 an email saying the allegations in the recall effort are not accurate.
“The charges in the recall are false, misleading, and are not supported by facts or law,” Spoon said in a written statement.
Spoon said the city council members are longtime residents who have worked in the best interest of voters.
“Our city council is currently seven Christian men that are long-time residents of Sand Springs,” Spoon said. “As city councilors elected by the registered voters of Sand Springs, they have acted in the best interest of the voters and citizens that elected them.”
City growth highlighted
Spoon also pointed to recent development in the city as a sign of progress.
“I constantly get positive comments about the direction Sand Springs is going,” Spoon said.
He cited new businesses such as Chili’s, Olive Garden, Planet Fitness and the upcoming addition of Chipotle Mexican Grill.
“We will be announcing more new additions to Sand Springs in the near future,” Spoon said. “Sand Springs is a great place to live and your city council is working to make it even better.”
The mayor also said neither the city nor council members were involved in a recent survey that circulated after the recall petition began.
“The city nor the city council members had any involvement in the survey,” Spoon said. “No tax dollars were spent on the survey.”
What’s next
If organizers gather enough verified signatures, the recall process would move forward and voters in Sand Springs would ultimately decide whether to keep current council members in office.
“We’re asking people to decide whether they trust what their city leadership is telling them,” Schmidt said. “If they don’t feel like they can trust the answer, then they should sign.”
