The Town of Meeker on Tuesday learned its received a $17,198 Emergency Grant through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to help defray costs of wastewater infrastructure improvements it had to make last December.
Meeker Town Administrator Dickie Walton wasn’t aware of the grant approval until notified by a reporter with the Tri-County Herald Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m happy,” Walton said, in learning the grant had been approved.
The grant and the 15 percent local match of $3,035 will help pay for fixing a sewer line that collapsed last December in Meeker. The cost to repair the line was more than $20,000.
At the Meeker Town Board’s December meeting, the Trustees adopted a resolution authorizing an application for the emergency grant from the OWRB for emergency sewer repairs.
The action was taken as members met as the Public Works Authority.
The Authority agreed at that time to have the collapsed sewer line repaired in the alley of the 300 block between Koonce and Johnson Streets hiring Linn’s Plumbing to repair the line at a cost not to exceed $23,000.
Walton explained the resolution seeking the emergency grant from OWRB was specifically to be used for the collapsed sewer line.
Walton confirmed on Tuesday that when he submitted the grant application last December, he told them, “The Town of Meeker is very appreciative of the support it has previously received from the OWRB, and is honored to be considered for this grant.
“The OWRB staff is always very helpful and informative, and we sincerely appreciate their support in the application process.
“This grant will greatly benefit the town.”
Joe Freeman is chief of the OWRB’s financial assistance division. He calculated by not having to borrow funds to repair the project it will save Meeker citizens $30,956 in principal and interest payments.