Lincoln County commissioners voted 2-1 this week to use ARPA funds for a water infrastructure project for a water line on U.S. 62 from Jacktown west to Fowler Road.
Commissioners briefly recessed the meeting to move it from the commissioners’ conference room to the courthouse lobby to take up the water line issue.
This was due to a large gathering that had shown up for the discussion on the issue.
Following the lengthy discussion between commissioners, commissioners and those people who had shown up on the issue, District 3 County Commissioner Lee Doolen, who is also chairman of the commission, moved to approve the water line.
District 1 Commissioner Carl Munson seconded it. He and Doolen voted for approval. District 2 Commissioner Marlon Miller opposed the project.
Doolen began the conversation with, “I feel this is a very important project.” He told those gathered he was glad to see that many people show up.
He said, “It will take $600,000 to get from Jacktown to Fowler Road,” adding, “Water is the future of Lincoln County I do believe.”
Miller, told the gathering, “I do think you do have a serious problem. To give $600,000 to that small of an area I don’t think it’s right,” he noted.
The District 2 commissioner insisted giving that much money to that small of an area wasn’t right, saying, “We’re responsible for the whole county. We need to treat the whole county fairly,” he believes.
Doolen said, “We have to start somewhere.” He also believes from U.S. 62 north to U.S. 66 and west is the growth area of the county along with around the turnpike.
Doolen commented, “I’ve talked with Charlie (Sheriff Charlie Dougherty) and this won’t impact his jail project.”
Some residents attending the meeting stressed the need for the water line and what it means to them.
Miller said, “I understand what everyone of you is saying. But this is just a small part of the county.” Dougherty, who was at the meeting, explained what the plan the courthouse- jail renovation committee had come up with that would not ask the public for any kind of tax increase.
There was no action taken on the plan during Monday’s meeting.
Doolen explained after the meeting Dougherty’s presentation was for informational purposes only.
Richard Kunze is manager of Rural Water District No. 3 which already has brought the water line up to within about 300 yards south of the U.S. 177 and U.S. 62 intersection at Jacktown.
Kunze said following the meeting the Rural Water District spent about $389,960 in doing that. “It’s three miles west from that intersection to Fowler Road,” he confirmed.
The Water District has proposed to pay the engineering and permitting costs to take the water line from the intersection to Fowler Road. “We’ve asked the county to use some of its ARPA funds to pay for the construction of the water line to Fowler Road,” he said.
Doolen emphasized the estimated $600,000 in ARPA funds possibly needed for the project “would be the maximum amount. It should be less than that,” he said following the meeting.
He explained the Rural Water District has been asked to invoice the county as each mile is completed.
While the county will pay for it, the Rural Water District will construct the line, he said.
Commissioners also opened bids on a 60-feet I-beam for Bridges 41-157 and 41-239 and on a 45-feet I beam bridge at Bridge 41-183 and tabled them until the next regular meeting.
They approved use of Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority funds and matching funds for the purchase of a generator for Emergency Management.
The state will reimburse them for a portion of it.
In other business, commissioners: Tabled renewal of a legal services agreement between the Board of Lincoln County commissioners and Floyd and Driver, PLLC, for legal services to be rendered in connection with the county’s expenditures and reporting and compliance obligations under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 state and local fiscal recovery funds program.
Approved an application for Emergency Management grants for the purchase of a generator for training expenses and for a performance grant.
Approved master service agreements with Apprentice.
Took no action on a Nextiva agreement for courthouse phone service.
Approved a Declaration of Surplus for District 3.
Adopted a resolution programming County Road and Bridge Improvement Fund CBRIF- 105 project. Approved the Canadian County Juvenile Detention Center.
Approved the bid process on county property located at Block 2, Lots 4-6 in the Donaldson Addition in Stroud.
Approved the Treasurer’s Transcripts of Proceedings on the sale of several county property lots in Lincoln County and in Davenport.
Approved a network drop in the Court Clerk’s office and the account to pay it from.
Approved the Lincoln County Treasurer’s Employee Personnel policies.
Approved Purchase Cards for Emergency Management.
Approved the Purchase Card Payment Approval Form.
Tabled a budget discussion to make possible changes to the Estimate of Needs. They agreed to hold a special meeting on Aug. 30 to handle that.
Approved OMMA Compliance certificates for Darkside Labs, Fire Sky Gardens, Starlabs Cannabis, The Chosen Cutt and Waterfront Farm.