Speaker applauds sale of unused state properties

Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon is applauding the latest efforts of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to liquidate unused state properties.

This week, OMES announced the acceptance of bids for the old OETA studio in Tulsa. The property was deemed to be underutilized under Speaker Shannon’s Omnibus Asset Consolidation Act of 2012 and therefore can be liquidated to decrease the state’s property footprint and costs.

Director Preston Doerflinger and the OMES staff’s quick action to identify and liquidate these unused assets shows their dedication to better servicing the citizens of Oklahoma, said Shannon, R-Lawton. This auction is just the first step toward making the state a more responsible property owner.

The State of Oklahoma is one of the largest property and building owners in Oklahoma, and many buildings remain underused and or empty creating a money pit in insurance costs for the state.

We must be better stewards of the taxpayers’ facilities and their tax money, said Shannon. “Burning tax dollars on empty buildings and underutilizing state assets is a wasteful mismanagement of funds. We need to sell these properties and use the dollars in a more responsible manner.

Shannon’s House Bill 1910, if passed by the Senate and signed by Gov. Mary Fallin, calls for an eight-year plan to prioritize asset repairs and maintenance to which liquidated property funds will be directed.

The building up for auction is located at 811 N. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK. The appraised value of the property is $165,000 and may not be sold for less than 90 percent of the appraised value under state statute. Bids will be accepted until April 26.

For additional information on the building, auction or bid packet, go to: or call (405) 521-3819 and/or email inforeals@omes.ok.gov.