The Stillwater Utilities Authority voted 4-0 on Nov. 4 to approve an extension agreement with MMO Partners for federal advocacy services in the amount of $79,200 and to authorize a related budget amendment and signatures.

The vote followed an annual presentation by MMO Partners. "It's been our pleasure over the past 2 years to work with you, your excellent staff, and the delegation to bring some victories back to Stillwater," said Kyriakos Pagonis, vice president at MMO Partners.

The presentation summarized federal funding work this year and near-term federal opportunities. Pagonis said the utility received a $1 million congressional earmark that was completed after FY 2023 work but signed into law in March (as described in the presentation). He said an additional $850,000 request was included in House language in the Interior appropriations bill for FY 2025 and that $30,000,000 is authorized in both the House and Senate versions of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

Pagonis cautioned that authorization does not guarantee funding and that appropriations decisions and continuing resolutions in Congress will affect whether the authorized or requested amounts are appropriated. "That bill typically is done every 2 years in a bipartisan fashion," Pagonis said of the Water Resources Development Act, adding that the authorization creates an account the city can request funds from in future appropriations.

Christy Clark, the staff presenter listed for the item on the agenda, recommended approval of an extension agreement with MMO Partners for federal advocacy services for $79,200, along with an associated budget amendment and authorization for the general manager to sign related documents. A trustee moved approval of staff's recommendation and another trustee seconded; the board approved the motion 4-0.

Trustee commentary commended the work. "In terms of return on investment, this is some of the best money we spend. And I appreciate what you do for our community," said Trustee Clark during the meeting. The mayor also praised the relationship with MMO Partners, saying, "It's been a good relationship and a very fruitful one for the community." (All quotes and attributions follow the meeting transcript.)

Before the MMO presentation the board approved the consent docket 4-0. The meeting concluded with a 4-0 vote to adjourn.

The MMO Partners report outlined ongoing agency outreach (including FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and identified other funding programs the firm and staff have been tracking, such as Bureau of Reclamation water-efficiency programs and federal economic development public-works programs. Pagonis said MMO Partners will continue coordinating with city staff to develop FY 2026 requests and to finalize pending FY 2025 appropriations packages; he flagged turnover in agency and congressional staff as an ongoing factor for outreach and education of new officials.

Next steps recorded in the discussion: staff and MMO Partners will continue to finalize applications tied to FEMA technical assistance, pursue appropriations tied to the WRDA authorization, and develop the next set of federal funding requests. The timeline and amounts for any final federal awards remain contingent on Congress completing appropriations or other legislative vehicles.