4 Business Reasons Why Jenks Mayor Cory Box and Jenks City Manager Chris Shrout Wasted Our Money!

The following is an opinion piece from Jenks Citizens. We encourage everyone to conduct their own research and form their own conclusions based on all publicly available data. While we will provide links to public information, our interpretation and opinion of this information are simply that—our opinion. We do not hold any position within the City and are not professional advisors, just citizens aiming to share with our community.

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The City of Jenks, Mayor Cory Box, and Jenks City Manager Chris Shrout recently purchased a luxury ranch with COVID Relief taxpayer funds for public use. Initially, they ripped out the full-length basketball court, gym, and other amenities to make way for the Jenks Chamber of Commerce offices and used the space for their events. When this strategy didn't succeed, they spent $150,000 on a parking lot and transformed the area into a profit-driven event center that competes with local established businesses nearby. This decision has been met with public opposition, leading the city to hold public meetings to collect feedback. Here is our business perspective on what went wrong and how they can secure a return for taxpayers in the future.

Here are the 4 Business Reasons Why Jenks Mayor Cory Box and Jenks City Manager Chris Shrout Wasted Our Money!

They overpaid for land in a flood area- This area experienced the most severe flooding in Jenks on June 8, 1974, due to heavy rains and flash flooding, possibly accompanied by a tornado outbreak that affected the region that day, as reported by News On 6. The flooding in Jenks was extensive, with significant water damage occurring west of Jenks and to the west and south of the Jenks levee. The mobile home park south of the levee was flooded, and suburban homes near the Creek County line were submerged, some by up to 4 ½ feet of water.

Jenks Public Schools canceled classes for the rest of the school year due to flooding concerns. Besides the June floods, the Jenks area and surrounding regions also faced floods in April and May of 1974, causing damage along Bird Creek. Mingo Creek, a nearby watershed, also experienced significant flooding in June and again in September of 1974.

Arial Picture of The 1974 Jenks Flood

The Ranch Property is situated in a Special Flood Hazard Area, adjacent to PoleCat Creek. This area is identified by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency as prone to flooding, mudflows, and/or flood-related erosion hazards, as shown on a flood hazard boundary map or a flood insurance rate map.

What $10 million could've been spent on otherwise known as opportunity cost which is the potential gain a company forgoes when selecting one option instead of another. It represents the value of the next best alternative that is sacrificed when a decision is taken.

Jenks City Manager stated that most of the funds came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Our research shows that ARPA funds could be used for a range of purposes, such as tackling the public health and economic issues caused by the pandemic, including COVID-19 mitigation and healthcare costs. The funds could also be directed toward premium pay for essential workers and to offset lost government revenue due to the pandemic. Eligible uses included investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Later amendments allowed funding for emergency relief from natural disasters, surface transportation projects, and activities eligible under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), all of which could have been applied to other capital projects.

We anticipate that taxpayers will spend over $10 million on the ranch, and we feel that there were more urgent alternatives to allocate this and other capital, as the following areas and developments critically need investment in landscaping, roads, bridges, and business recruitment.

• Jenks Downtown is facing challenges with outdated infrastructure, and several buildings are in disrepair without any landscaping. Furthermore, the land owned by the city for the library remains unused in the central commercial area after a costly but unsuccessful $70 million project led by Mayor Cory Box. This vacant land is estimated to result in a $7 million annual revenue loss. Consultants hired by the City of Jenks recently reported that the fiscal impact of revitalizing downtown is expected to generate $55 million in new tax revenues, with $30 million from property taxes, $18 million from sales taxes, and $7 million from hotel taxes. Additionally, the development is projected to result in $776 million in total spending, support $192 million in new earnings, and contribute to the local economy by creating up to 282 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs at its peak.

Downtown Building That Needs Repairs

The City of Jenks Owns 4 Acres In Downtown That Sits Empty

• In 2017, hope surged among residents regarding the Simon Outlet Mall, promising new shopping opportunities and economic growth. The city held a groundbreaking ceremony in early 2020, igniting excitement. But almost immediately, the pandemic halted construction and put plans on indefinite pause just as the community was gearing up for change. Since then, many have questioned Mayor Box's dedication to fulfilling this vision. The investment through Tax Increment District “A” was supposed to turn Jenks into a retail hub, yet as of 2025, the future remains uncertain. A recent online survey by The Ten District showed that most local residents feel the delay has affected their trust in city leadership. Additionally, Mayor Box announced that venues like the sushi restaurant In the Raw and Camp Pickle, a new pickleball and entertainment concept modeled after a 1940s summer camp, were coming soon to Jenks on taxpayer-funded land next to the mall. However, a year later, these projects have not begun construction and do not seem to be forthcoming, which undermines the Mayor's credibility. Although the Jenks Mayor has been aware of the Outlet Mall's arrival for years, he has faced difficulties in attracting tenants. This is worrisome, particularly since hundreds of acres remain available for sale and undeveloped, with no new projects initiated after a full year since the mall's opening. Despite the city allocating over $200,000 annually to the Jenks Chamber of Commerce for economic development, there seems to be a lack of effective action to draw well-known brands or unique experiences. It's challenging to estimate the potential loss to taxpayers if the Outlet Mall fails, as we've invested money and effort into The Ranch at a crucial time. This could represent the city's largest risk of $10 million if the Mall doesn't succeed due to insufficient resources allocated to its development and surrounding infrastructure.

Area Around The Outlet Mall Sits Empty

• For years, taxpayers have invested millions in constructing and operating the Oklahoma Aquarium, yet there is no clear return on this investment. Decades after its initial opening, despite promises that the aquarium would boost sales in Jenks, there has been no development around it and no connection to other shopping areas, nor any plans to establish such. It's difficult to justify the substantial sales revenue and payback loss for taxpayers if the City chooses to allocate $10 million to a Ranch instead of focusing on development efforts around the Aquarium. Meanwhile, the city of Jenks continues to invest more taxpayer money into the Aquarium.

Land Around The Aquarium Remains Empty

The original purpose and motivation for purchasing the Ranch have shifted. When the City of Jenks acquired the Ranch, they issued a statement to taxpayers explaining how the funds would be utilized and how it would benefit the Jenks Community:

• Relocate the Chamber of Commerce to the existing office space on the ranch property.

• Relocate the seniors

• Develop a future public park on a significant portion of the ranch property.

• Offer a large meeting venue in the existing 10,800 square foot building on the ranch.

The Chamber of Commerce relocated to the Ranch, where it organized private parties and public events at the taxpayers' expense. They removed the full-length basketball court and installed a $150,000 parking lot in a flood-prone area, which we didn't know was possible, only for the Chamber to relocate again due to political maneuvering. The city of Jenks has not permitted the Seniors to establish a home at the Ranch. They are contemplating a public park, which we support, but the expenses for this project need to be carefully evaluated and scrutinized due to a history of overpaying.

An often overlooked aspect of a city budget is the overhead cost, which includes utilities, repairs, maintenance, cleaning, and general upkeep that likely surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. In particular, significant drainage, water repair, and sewage enhancements demand a substantial amount of resources in terms of City of Jenks employees and workers, yet these costs are not reflected in any budgets. This focus on property work and repairs detracts from projects such as the Elm Street widening and other essential needs of the city of Jenks.

The manner in which this was handled is quite troubling. Two council members attend the same church as the owner, the developer representing the buyer has a close relationship with the Mayor, and the Mayor is neighbors with the seller. Yet, neither Mayor Cory Box nor the City Councilor recused themselves.

In conclusion the primary point is if a company has $100,000 to invest and can choose between investing in new equipment with an expected 15% return or a marketing campaign with an expected 10% return, the opportunity cost of selecting the equipment is the 5% potential return lost by not investing in marketing. Therefore, why don't the Mayor of Jenks, Cory Box, and the Jenks City Manager carefully and publicly evaluate opportunity costs? By doing so, businesses can make more strategic decisions, ensuring they allocate resources effectively and maximize their potential for success. Jenks has spent a significant amount of taxpayer money subsidizing key areas like the Simon Premium Outlet Mall, The Aquarium, the development around the Bank, and the library land. We would hate to see the city lose focus and miss opportunities by spending money and time on the Ranch, which is concerning to us.