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Jenks awarded roughly $1.68 million federal grant for Elwood utility relocation; construction funding could take two years
Summary
City staff told council the city received about $1.68 million in federal funds—after a 20% local match—to relocate utilities for the Elwood improvement project; staff warned construction funding may not be available until a later INCOG round.
City Manager Shroud told the Jenks City Council that the city was awarded roughly $1,680,000 in federal grant funds to cover utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition for the Elwood improvement project, a segment that will straighten a curve near ConocoPhillips tank storage and add a trail.
The award covers relocation work on utilities the city must move to implement the design voters previously approved, Shroud said. The total project cost is $2.1 million and the city is responsible for a 20% local match — about $420,000 — leaving roughly $1.68 million in federal funds for utility relocation.
Robert Carr, who briefed the council on the INCOG application process, said the INCOG region had about $4.5 million available for this funding round and received far more requests: “They got $60,700,000 worth of applications,” Carr said, meaning the region had to select 13 of 21 applications for awards. Jenks’ project was among the 13 selected for funding in this round.
Carr explained a particular relocation issue: Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) had lines within its own easement adjacent to Elwood. When the city widened the right-of-way, the ONG lines that sat in ONG easement territory required relocation paid by the city as part of the utility work. Carr said the ONG relocation is the last utility item to be moved along Elwood; once relocated, the project can move to a construction funding request in a future INCOG round.
Council and staff noted the funding program allocated money for two years in this cycle rather than one, which means the city may need to wait up to two years before construction funds are available. Staff said they will apply for construction money during the next INCOG round.
Carr and City Manager Shroud described the award as positive news for the project, which ties into broader improvement plans on Elwood from 120 First to 111th and from Main Street to 90 First Street.
No formal council vote was recorded on the grant announcement; the item was presented as a report in the city manager’s update.
