WATONGA – The Watonga City Council last week accepted a grant for sewer line improvements near the intersection of Clarence Nash and Russworm.
The Community Block Development Grant will cover about $345,000 of the project costs, which are estimated at about $400,000 total. There is an exposed manhole on the southeast corner of the intersection that the project is designed to fix.
“We got that approved, which is big,” said City Manager Karrie Beth Little.
The next step will be to issue a request for proposals for the actual construction work, after which the repairs can begin.
CBDG grants are administered in Oklahoma through the Department of Commerce. They enable “rural Oklahoma communities to finance a variety of public infrastructure and economic improvements,” according to the Commerce Department website.
During the Tuesday meeting, the council also:
• Renewed the lease agreement with the Mercy Clinic for the property at 203 North Weigle
• Renewed the agreement for “maintenance and upkeep” of Huff Lorang Park between the city and Watonga Public Schools, which uses the park for softball and baseball games
• Renewed the agreement with Harrison & Mecklenberg to retain Jared Harrison as the city’s attorney
• Approved Ordinance No. 675, which will make prisoners responsible for the cost of their confinement – about $27 per day – rather than the city
The council also approved an estimate for mold remediation at the Liberty Theater after the February ice storm burst some pipes inside. The $15,000 cost will be paid either by the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, Watonga’s insurance provider, or by the city itself.
The council took no action on an item regarding the use of Watonga police vehicles outside city limits, and an amended fireworks ordinance was tabled and will be redrafted, Little said.
Tuesday’s was the final city council meeting in the old City Hall at 117 North Weigle. All future meetings will be held at 410 W. Main St., the new City Hall, beginning in October.
Little said the move to the new City Hall is nearly complete, though the city is still monitoring the payment drop box at the old location until a new one is installed at 410 W. Main.