During a recent city council meeting in Norman, significant discussions emerged regarding the future of toll roads and the potential for an investigative audit of the Turnpike Authority. A council member expressed strong opposition to a proposed resolution, advocating instead for a contractual approach to negotiations, arguing that a resolution would diminish the city's negotiating power.

Dave Moore, representing wards 3 and 5, emphasized that the toll road issue has been extensively studied over the past 25 years, with previous studies consistently concluding that toll roads are not a viable option. He criticized the council's past study sessions, describing them as unproductive and filled with uncertainty, urging for a decisive vote to move forward.

Tessie Hirschfeld, also from ward 5, called for a postponement of any decisions until the results of an ongoing investigative audit are released. She raised concerns about the city manager's understanding of the audit's implications and highlighted the potential for serious findings, referencing past cases that led to criminal charges. Hirschfeld argued that the council should wait for expert opinions before proceeding with any agreements with the Turnpike Authority, citing a recent vote of no confidence from over 11,000 citizens regarding the council's actions.

The meeting underscored a growing tension within the council and the community regarding the toll road project and the need for transparency and accountability in city governance.