MIDLAND, Texas — Three Midlanders have filed a lawsuit against the City of Midland, Midland Independent School District, Assistant City Manager Chris Saladine and Building Official Jeff Pinkstaff.
Those three Midlanders are Lynda Jackson, Jonathan Rojo and Kristi Alldredge.
The lawsuit filed Monday states that the city and MISD violated city zoning ordinances by attempting to build a new Midland High School on the land that sits the Ranchland Hills Golf Course. In 2023, citizens in Midland voted to pass a $1.4 billion bond that would allow them to do that.
The Midlanders say in the lawsuit that the Ranchland Hills Golf Course is "not only to the demand and support of the community, but also to the Midland City Council's enactment of Ordinance 6855 in 1988.
According to the lawsuit, below is what the zoning ordinance states:
"That the only use of the property shall be as a private membership recreational club, including a clubhouse for country club activities, such as dining, dancing, receptions and meetings, and facilities for recreational clothing and equipment, all for the use of members and guests. There shall be no other use permitted of the property."
NewsWest 9 has reached out to Midland ISD regarding the zoning ordinance and this is what they said:
"Midland ISD is fully aware of the ordinance. Texas State Law exempts school districts from municipal zoning restrictions." - Midland Independent School District
According to Sam Eaton with Midland ISD communications, if the land is being used for public education, they can use it as so.
NewsWest 9 looked up Midland Assistant City Manager Chris Saladine and there is no trace of a Chris Saladine in Midland, Texas. However, NewsWest 9 found Saladine to work for the city of Midland, Michigan, according to the City of Midland, Michigan's website.
At 4:54 p.m. Tuesday, Midland ISD sent a thorough statement on the district-owned land that is determined to become a new Midland High School:
"Midland ISD is aware of the petition circulating throughout the community related to the district-owned property at 1600 E. Wadley Ave.; however, the district has not been formally served. The district stands firm in its belief that it not only is within its legal right, but also has a responsibility to parents and taxpayers, to proceed with the voter-approved construction of the Bond 2023 projects as communicated to the public when the property was purchased in 2019 and throughout the bond. The capital improvement projects will provide Midland students safety and security upgrades, address enrollment growth and allow for the all-important grade reconfiguration that will move 6th graders to middle schools and provide a traditional 9th-12th grade model.
Midland ISD has made a commitment to the community to stay on time and on budget with the bond projects and looks forward to continuing to honor the 2023 bond timeframes, budgets, and projects that have been committed to voters. Assuming the current general construction inflation rate estimate for the Midland-Odessa area is 7%, a delay in these projects would equate to a projected $2.4 million increase in construction costs every month to deliver on the same projects that were promised to the Midland community following the approval of the bond in November of 2023.
The district is proud to have already saved taxpayers approximately $310 million in interest through the recent bond sale as compared to the planning estimates as a result of investor demand and a sound financial rating. Additionally, since 2012, the district has saved taxpayers $92 million through refinancing and defeasing existing debt.
We look forward to the upcoming groundbreakings for the new campuses that will take place in the summer of 2025 and welcoming students and staff in 2028." - Midland Independent School District
Below is the full lawsuit: