Trust approves claims, awards I-44 water-line contract and enacts 10% late fee for non-utility services

The MSUA on March 17 approved routine claims and several action items, including an award for a water-line project and a new resolution permitting a 10% late fee on non-utility services.

Clerk reported no unscheduled public appearances, and the board approved the general claims list and a second claims list item for Vance Auto Group (record shows trustees Easton, Dunkel, Jones and Barnes voted aye; Parker recorded an abstention on that item). Staff presented a $315 claim from Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer related to Pensacola GRDA relicensing and said the remaining settlement balance would be $578,460.40 if approved; the board discussed distribution of settlement checks and was told checks were expected in April.

Trustees voted to award the I-44 and Tree Road water-line project to Accuracy Underground not to exceed $338,108, authorizing the trust manager to sign the contract contingent on legal review and Oklahoma Water Resources Board approval. A staff member said the line will carry water from a new tower across the interstate to feed the east side of the turnpike, providing a second feed for redundancy.

Separately, the board adopted resolution MSUA 2026-04-04 to establish a 10% late payment fee on non-utility services. Staff cited examples such as tipping fees and rental agreements and said the fee will provide administrative enforcement authority for non-utility charges that previously had none. A trustee described the change as aligning the authority’s non-utility services with standard late-fee practice.

All items on the consent and action calendar were approved by voice votes as recorded in the meeting transcript. The meeting concluded with staff reports and notice that the session would reconvene in a staff room for an executive session.