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Warr Acres public works updates: Pines Dam spillway funding limited by state rules; emergency pumping and repairs to be negotiated with homeowners association
Summary
City engineers told the council that the state will not fund the entire Pines Dam spillway via the clean water loan; the city expects to negotiate an MOU with the Pines HOA that splits costs, and emergency pumping and temporary measures are running roughly $50,000 a month while repairs are planned.
Warr Acres city engineers and consultants gave the City Council an update on wastewater infrastructure projects on March 18, telling council members the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) will not allow federal clean-water loan funds to pay for the entire Pines Dam spillway rehabilitation.
Mark (city engineer, last name not recorded) said OWRB will allow funding only for the portion of the spillway directly protecting the sanitary sewer crossing. “They’re only going to allow for us to do the portion of the spillway where the sanitary sewer is in crossing that spillway,” he said, adding that the agency would not fund the remainder of the spillway because of federal-funds rules. The city expects to negotiate a cost-share Memorandum of Understanding with the Pines Homeowners Association so the HOA will pay part of the non-eligible portion.
Engineers said the city has loan forgiveness funds available to cover engineering and planning, but that OWRB requested additional hydraulic study work if the city seeks to reclassify the hazard rating of the dam from high to low. The consultants recommended that the HOA, not the city, pay the extra work needed to change the dam hazard rating.
City staff also described emergency operations tied to the problem: the city has rented standby pumping and other temporary equipment to manage flows while repairs are planned, at an estimated cost approaching $50,000 per month. Officials said the expense is being tracked and that staff are exploring ARPA and other funds to offset costs; they also said some of the expenses may be eligible for OWRB loan funds if OWRB approves. Staff plan to present an MOU and a construction project for council consideration in April with the intent to advertise the project shortly afterward.
The council also heard that a recent 21-inch interceptor replacement near James Capps Middle School has reached final walkthrough and is expected to close out under budget, and that the city’s CCTV and flow monitoring work will be used to finalize the wastewater master plan and pursue more funding.
Council members asked for details on cost shares and timing. Staff said they would negotiate with the HOA on cost allocation and return with the MOU and project documents.
