Editor’s note: the various projects will be examined in order of priority set by NODA. This article outlines the essential projects only.
The Northern Oklahoma Development Authority, or NODA, has issued a plan for capital improvements in the city of Watonga.
That plan designates the various projects as being mandatory, meaning the city’s hand is being forced by public health needs or state or federal requirements; others are considered essential, necessary to maintain health and welfare of the residents although no immediate risk is noted; desirable, indicating it will be needed within the next five years to prevent systems from becoming obsolete and provide for future growth; and deferrable, which means there is no set time for the need to be addressed. The four categories together represent a combined cost of $44.34 million.
The essential category has an all-in price tag of $27 million and at 61%, has the lion’s share of the projects. The improvement plan suggests the city pay for the improvements from the general fund, municipal loans or utilizing grants. Ideally, the projects considered essential should be completed in a three-to-five year time frame with the projects being revisited during each budget cycle and as funding becomes available.
The projects include work on City Hall, at 410 W. Main Street. It needs a new roof and an upgrade to the heating/ cooling systems. Those projects are estimated at $130,000 and $100,000, respectively. The library needs more space and a reroof. Those projects are anticipated to cost $2.5 million.
The airport runways and lighting systems have recently had major facelifts, leaving the terminal looking like a dowdy cousin in comparison. The capital asset needs assessment estimates $2 million would provide tiedowns, a taxiway and a proper building. The old city water wells would also need to me moved from the area of the airport.
The fire department, the planning points out, needs a dozer and trailer and an upgrade of 3” firehoses. The machinery carries a price tag of $500,000 and the hose far less at $15,000.
The emergency response services should have a new building, including room for the police and fire departments and the ambulance service. That cost is estimated at $10 million. Seven police cars should be replaced over the next five years and that is expected to carry a price tag of $434,000.
While the parks received mostly good reviews, the study suggests an upgrade at Huff-Lorang, at a cost of $150,000.
There are some 50 street segments that need overlay all over the city. At an estimated cost of $25,000 per segment, the total need for streets is $1.25 million.
Drainage between Moreland and Newer on Main Street is in a flood plain and needs a new culvert. That cost is ballparked at $250,000.
There are 15 projects in the essential category in the water/sewer/electrical portion of the study. They should be addressed in the next fiveyear plan and are essential for the health and well being of residents and businesses in the community.
There are 5,280 ft. of waterline in need of replacement around town at a cost estimate of $1 million. There are 10 six-inch valves that need to be replaced in the next five-seven years and each year could cost $20,000. Six fire hydrants should be replaced each year for the next five-seven years at an annual estimate of $15,000.
A front end loader is needed by the city and is anticipated to cost $270,000.
A 1,000 foot sewer line behind Dollar General is 10 inches in diameter and buried 12-15 feet deep. It needs to be replaced and a manhole added at a cost of $600,000.
The grit chamber and digester for the sewage plant should be upgraded at a cost estimate of $750,000. It is unclear whether that project is the same as the upgrades currently underway or if it is an additional project.
The electric department is in need of a bucket truck and a pole truck, tagged at $250,000 and $350,000 respectively. The department also needs to upgrade primary and secondary lines, transformers and poles, expected to cost $750,000.
The total cost of the essential needs is, as previously noted, $27 million over three to five years, although some are spread out over seven years. That would be an estimated $5.4 million per year for the essentials.
“This is a roadmap that identifies what we can do to make our city better,” said City Manager Karrie Little. “It can be updated and changed as needed.”
The survey is a tool to prioritize projects and allocate money as it becomes available to stay inside health and safety guidelines, and to improve conditions and capacity to allow for growth. There is no penalty for using a different set of priorities or developing a scaled down budget, perhaps by purchasing used equipment or repurposing existing equipment and facilities.