The City of Altus has been seeking to dismiss a lawsuit that accused it of illegally selling an airplane hangar to Southwest Technology Center.

Since the time the city council agreed to sell the hangar, a group of local citizens sued them over the sale, and has demanded that the city reclaim the property, vacate the sale, or collect more money to match the current appraisal value.

The city says that the lawsuit should be thrown out because it was filed before they could respond to the initial demand letter submitted.

Since that time, it has been suggested that actions be consolidated, with the next step being to file a motion, and then to get a reply, however, nothing has been set for hearing.

Judge Clark Huey, who was originaly assigned to the case, has been replaced by Judge Darby.

SWTC had been leasing half of the hangar for instruction since 2003, and wanted to purchase the entire facility so the school could expand its training and certification program for Altus Air Force Base.

The motion to dismiss was filed in late July in Jackson County District Court, the same day the city filed petition requesting a district judge to determine the validity of the sale agreement.