Canadian Co. Families Fight Back Against Landowner

More than two dozen Canadian County families are in the midst of a property dispute. They say it’s dragging on for months, and now they’re hoping for action from the state.

Neighbors say Harold Poage has been illegally hauling dirt off his 120-acre property at Northwest 10th Street and Cimarron Road since he bought it two years ago. They say hauling that dirt has caused dust and dirt problems for more than two dozen homes in the area.

Many neighbors claim the land is not zoned properly, and that Poage plans to convert two old oil wells on the property into saltwater disposal wells. They say Poage has not been truthful about his plans. 

Two weeks ago, the issue was heard by an Administrative Judge with Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission. 

Ray Gatto is one of the neighbors who says Poage has been a big problem.

“I understand progress, we all understand that. But with today it seems like nobody abides by the law anymore,” said Gatto. “You tell em’ no and they do it anyway.” 

News 9 called Poage to get his side of the story. He said he “wasn’t interested.”

There’s no timetable on when the Corporation Commission will issue its ruling.