McAlester council reviews $52 million capital improvement plan; staff urges prioritizing water and wastewater

The McAlester City Council heard a presentation on the proposed Capital Improvement Plan for 2026–2031 and was told the draft lists roughly $52 million in needs while the city currently budgets about $1.5 million per year for capital. A city staff member said the plan groups projects across utilities, streets, public safety, airport and special projects and asked the council to set priorities.

The staff member emphasized utility reliability. "There is nothing more important to this city than the water that we drink and the sewer that we get rid of," the city staff member said, urging the council to prioritize water and wastewater work ahead of other items.

Why it matters: many of the largest line items are for water and wastewater systems, and staff told the council that failing to address those systems would create larger public-health and service problems that could outweigh improvements to roads or parks.

Key projects and cost notes cited by staff included a full facilities planning and engineering report for both wastewater plants (staff said the report is expected to cost about $2,200,000), lift-station repairs (listed at about $150,000), a $70,000 lift station for the West wastewater plant, and an aeration project at the West plant listed at about $650,000. Staff said an electrical evaluation for both plants should be included in the facility plan rather than listed separately.

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