Cherokee Nation council hears updates on water, roads and transit partnerships
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Summary
Transportation staff told the council two water storage tanks are nearing completion, multiple water and sewer projects are planned, sidewalk and overlay road projects are out to bid, and a long-standing transit partner described expanded services and subsidized rides for Cherokee Nation citizens.
Michael Lynn, director in the Cherokee Nation transportation department, briefed the council on ongoing water, sewer and roadway projects and on transit performance at the council's Feb. 16 meeting. Lynn said two water storage tanks in Noida and Linapaw are nearing completion and another tank is just getting started, and he listed water projects planned for Collinsville, Stillwell and Jay and sanitary sewer projects in Jay, Tahlequah and Kenwood. "We need as much data as we can to help drive some of our decision making," Lynn said, urging members to encourage constituents to complete the Nation's water survey on the Cherokee Nation online portal.
Lynn also updated the council on a sidewalks project into Tahlequah that was delayed by snow but is progressing; he described a required concrete box extension near Willis Road and outlined planned phases that will push the sidewalk farther south. He announced two overlay projects—Bryant Road (Cherokee County) and Summerfield Hollow Road (Delaware County)—are out to bid with a Feb. 24 bid opening.
On transit, Lynn said rolling annual ridership is about 115,000–117,000 rides and that many citizens rely on the service. He introduced Charlotte Sloan, identified in the meeting as a director with a regional transit provider, who described a partnership that began about 2007 and grew from a single bus to a fleet. Sloan said the provider operates vehicles supplied for service and that Cherokee Nation subsidizes fares for its citizens, which she noted are 50¢ a ride for qualifying riders. "Between Cherokee Nation and Katz, we have lots of opportunities for people to get to where they need to go," Sloan told the council, describing routes across several counties and connections with Medicaid transportation.
Lynn introduced transportation planner Robert Endicott, who helps prepare data that supports inventory and planning work. Lynn said the department will keep the water survey open through about April and will circulate the survey link to council staff for distribution. The council did not take formal action on project funding during the meeting; members asked a few clarifying questions about specific projects such as plans for Snake Creek and the south side of the turnpike, and Lynn said those plans remain under development.
The council moved on to other agenda items after the transportation report.