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Chickasha advances flood-mitigation design work, seeks federal HMGP/FEMA funding
Summary
The council approved a master service agreement and Task Order 1 with Messick and Associates to prepare a grant application and preliminary design for a flood-mitigation project tied to HMGP/FEMA funding and Justice40 scoring. Consultants said acquisitions would be voluntary and construction would follow later task orders.
Chickasha — The Chickasha City Council authorized a master service agreement and Task Order 1 with Messick and Associates to prepare design work and federal grant applications for a Chickasha flood-mitigation project (project code COC-2404).
Consultants told the council the project focuses on upstream regional detention ponds and channel conveyance improvements that are intended to reduce flood risk, remove structures from floodplain designations and make some land more usable for development. The work approved is for engineering and grant-application tasks; consultants said construction would be a later, separate approval.
Consultants explained that Justice40 considerations — identifying socially vulnerable populations and demonstrating community benefits — are part of competitive federal grant rubrics and can increase the city's scoring on national grant applications. "Justice 40 represents socially underserved vulnerable populations in your community," consultant Allison said, describing how the initiative informs the grant application and can improve competitiveness.
Council members raised concerns about potential property acquisitions and eminent-domain authority. A Messick engineer said acquisitions would be negotiated with property owners, eminent domain is not an intended outcome and "it very rarely gets to that point," and FEMA requires that property owners have professional representation for acquisition negotiations.
Staff described funding as a mix of the city's matched funds, anticipated Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds and other competitive federal programs; some local oil-and-gas revenue is restricted by ordinance to street and drainage infrastructure and is a source for the city's local match. Consultants gave a grant timeline with an expected Notice of Intent (NOI) in mid-2025 and a Dec. 1, 2025 competitive application deadline for a BRIC/HMGP-type grant; awards would be announced in 2026.
The council approved the task order and directed staff to move forward with design and application preparation. Consultants said they would hold public meetings and identify specific properties for any proposed easements or acquisitions as the design progresses.
