By
Benny Polacca
Photo caption: Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear presents a check to Fairfax Mayor Charlie Cartwright. CODY HAMMER/Osage News
FAIRFAX, Okla. – The Osage Nation is moving forward with plans to build senior housing for area elders after the Nation purchased 13.63 acres for $57,000 from the town’s municipal government.
On May 3, Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear presented the check to the Fairfax Town Board for the land purchase, which is located just north of the Fairfax Manor Nursing Home.
“We want to thank you for working with us in finding that land and allowing us to purchase it,” Standing Bear said during the board meeting at City Hall. “What we want to do is build 16 units containing eight duplexes, so we’ll be working with you on right-of-ways, water, sewer to purchase utilities from you.”
The land purchase comes after months of talks between the two entities on the land purchase leading to the deed signing and check presentation. The Seventh ON Congress approved a $57,000 appropriation bill (ONCA 21-12 sponsored by Congresswoman Brandy Lemon) for the Fairfax land purchase during its December 2020 special session.
The Nation issued a statement on the land purchase noting: “Over the past several years, Osage elders have expressed their concern about the lack of housing for seniors in and around Fairfax.”
This will be the first time additional senior housing will be built under the reformed Osage government approved by voters in 2006. Built in the early 2000s, the Nation’s current 28-unit senior housing complex is a nearly 30-minute drive located next to the ON government campus.
“This is a big deal for us because there’s no other senior housing in Osage County for the Osage Nation except Pawhuska and we have several people from this community that have moved over there, and I know one gentleman that’s trying to find a place over there now. So, this gives us the opportunity to start the architect and engineering (plans for the project),” Standing Bear said.
As Standing Bear presented the check to Fairfax Mayor Charlie Cartwright, ON Executive Branch Director of Operations Casey Johnson presented the land deed paperwork for the town’s signature authority. Cartwright thanked Standing Bear and the town board and meeting attendees applauded the milestone.
Original Publish Date: 2021-05-06 00:00:00
