Commissioners authorize demand letter asking OK Department of Mental Health for partial $750,000 repayment

The Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners authorized a demand letter to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) requesting a partial remittance of $750,000 within 20 days as partial repayment of a $1.5 million donation for a proposed Donahue Center that was not constructed.

County staff presented a draft letter reflecting prior conversations between the county and ODMHSAS. A staff member summarized: "What we have in this letter is a partial request for $750,000 to the county within 20 days of receipt of this letter as partial repayment for the 1,500,000.0 requested for repaying, repayment following OKDMHSAS failure to secure funding to a, new mental health hospital in Oklahoma County. This partial remittance would not relieve ODMH of their obligation return, the 1,500,000.0, as we originally requested." The board approved the letter by motion and second.

Commissioners said they had discussed the matter with ODMHSAS offices and believed the agency had funds available for partial repayment; one commissioner asked, "we've had conversations with them and they have indicated that they do have money on hand. Is that correct?" County staff responded affirmatively. A commissioner who moved the motion said they were "happy that all the commissioners agree, that we need to move forward and with this demand letter and try to recoup some of these monies that we've given them."

Ending: The board authorized sending the demand letter seeking $750,000 within 20 days and directed staff to proceed; the letter states the $750,000 would not relieve ODMHSAS of the county's original $1.5 million repayment request.