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DIA reports balanced finances, population growth and updates on Project Sand and air-evac talks
Summary
Authority staff reported fund balances, growth in Durant and Southeastern Oklahoma State University enrollment, said Project Sand's letter of intent decision is expected within a week, and described ongoing talks with Arrivac and Alliance Health about air-evac services and funding.
At its meeting, the Durant Industrial Authority received its monthly financial and executive director reports showing fund balances in line with budget and highlighting local growth and several development projects.
Kara, staff member, told trustees the authority had a checking account balance of about $382,000 and that Fund 110 showed a balance of approximately $7.16 million, about $14,000 above expected revenues at mid-year. Fund 020 carried roughly $1.98 million and appeared on budget.
Executive Director Kathy provided broader economic and project updates. She said Durant’s 2023 population within a five-mile radius is “right over 27,000,” and that the Durant metropolitan statistical area exceeds 50,000 with a daytime population above 35,000. Kathy highlighted enrollment at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, reporting a fall headcount of 6,030 — “the largest in the history of the university” and growth of about 38% since 2014.
On Project Sand, Kathy said the authority would know within about a week whether a letter of intent and negotiations have been accepted. She also updated trustees on Arrivac, an air-evac provider: Kathy said Alliance Health has joined conversations and that concerns about using a quarter-cent sales tax as a funding mechanism “has been addressed and is no longer a concern.” She said Arrivac has “their own funding mechanisms” and a professional engineering team and that the city and authority remain committed to securing air-evac services locally.
There were no substantive questions about the financial figures from trustees at the meeting. The board approved routine consent items, including minutes from its Jan. 7, 2025 meeting.
