By Burt Mummolo, FOX23.com News Staff
WAGONER, Okla. — In a bombshell 36-page lawsuit against the City of Wagoner, the mayor and other local officials, Wagoner City Councilor Nate Wilson alleges the City has engaged in a consistent and alarming pattern of selling municipal property without transparency or public oversight.
“The public wasn’t entitled,” said Wilson. “They weren’t allowed the opportunity to bid on them.”
Wilson cited several examples, alleging that shady dealings resulted in sweetheart deals for developers.
Who is the victim?
“The citizens of Wagoner and the public,” Wilson stated. “Everybody. Those are tax dollars that being not carried. If it was open for an open bid—an open public bid—then you may have revealed a fair market valued based on other bidders. That wasn’t fair.”
FOX23 reached out to Wagoner Mayor Dalton Self, who stated, “We have not broken the law. If anything, Councilor Wilson has by lying in the lawsuit saying he’s a citizen of Wagoner County when he lives in Tulsa. He is using this as a smear campaign because he has nothing to lose. Everything he owns is in foreclosure and there’s no financial repercussions because he doesn’t have a job.”
Wilson said he has several properties and emphasized that he does live in Wagoner.
“I have a house in Tulsa. I have one in Rocky Point and I have one in Wagoner. I live in Wagoner.”
Wilson said he’ll be reporting the allegations in the lawsuit to the police.
Wilson shared what he hopes comes from the lawsuit.
“I would like all the property returned to the citizens.”
To view the the full lawsuit, click here.
