Council sets Dec. 9 hearing on Willow Springs water main improvement district

The Lawton City Council voted to set a public hearing for Dec. 9 to consider creating the Willow Springs Neighborhood Water Main Improvement District after staff summarized neighborhood requests and preliminary engineering and cost estimates.

Christie, presenting for staff, said the neighborhood had requested the improvement district to replace aging private water lines. Garber prepared preliminary plans and cost estimates showing the project would replace existing 4-inch and 6-inch mains with 8-inch lines to meet city standards, add fire hydrants and water meters, and include associated work such as inspection and staff costs. Staff presented a construction cost figure of about $1.2 million and a worst-case estimate of about $1.3 million after adding inspection, staff time and financing costs. Staff described repayment options including loan terms of 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, and said the city would initially fund construction using a Water Resources Board loan and the new mains would be dedicated to the city for future maintenance.

If council approves the district at the Dec. 9 hearing, state statute provides a 30-day period for any property owner to file opposition; after that waiting period staff will finalize construction documents, obtain easements, bid the work and proceed with construction. Council voted to set the public hearing by motion; the motion carried 7–0.

No final loan terms, homeowner assessments, or exact repayment schedules were decided at the meeting; those will be presented to the council after final construction costs are known.