Trustees discuss water-tower inspection, sewer and manhole repairs and potential OWRB grant application

Trustees reviewed engineering concerns about the town’s water tower and related sewer infrastructure and discussed choosing a project for a potential OWRB grant application. The matter is significant because trustees must prioritize limited funds among multiple aging assets: speakers flagged failing brick manholes, mortar deterioration where groundwater is entering the system, an uncovered sewer problem under Main Street, and water-tower deterioration that may affect pressure for downhill residents. A trustee said the town had a prior repair on the water tower about nine years ago that cost roughly $54,000; the speaker said that work had been expected to last longer. The trustee said an engineer who has worked for Myers Engineering and who now operates independently — and who has done planning work for other municipalities — offered to write a grant application to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) (the speaker referred to this body as “OWRB”) and to inspect the video with trustees. Trustees discussed inspection timing. One speaker said a reviewer scheduled a round of inspections and that he thought the reviewer could return in the “third week in August.” The reviewer reportedly recommended inspections every five years as required practice, though the trustee said the reviewer’s team suggested doing them every three years to avoid advanced deterioration. Trustees also weighed competing needs: brick manholes with failing mortar and a sewer issue underneath Main Street were presented as alternative projects the town could choose for a planning grant or capital work. The trustee said the town must “weigh those things against” whether to repair the water tower. A trustee proposed inviting the reviewer to meet with trustees and watch the inspection video in the town office; the speaker said the reviewer “would like to come and view the video with us and explain to us.” Trustees agreed to place the item on a future agenda for formal consideration; the transcript does not record a formal funding decision or contract award. Speakers also raised equipment and shop inventory matters during the meeting that are operationally related to maintenance work: availability of parts in the shop, motor/air handling units that may be “fried,” and notes on prior vendors. The record shows trustees intend to follow up with an on-site review and to assign staff to schedule the reviewer’s visit and to prepare a project recommendation for the board.