Donna Dyer, administrator for Eastern Oklahoma Family Healthcare said work on the new 7,000 square foot facility is, “going really well.” She explained the concrete pad for the main building has been poured and expected concrete to go down for part of the parking lot this week.
“We are still anticipating substantial completion April 1,” she told HEDA members.
Because of mounting attorney fees in connection with some of the environmental issues, she requested the city provide $25,000 to help pay those bills. “We are facing a 70 percent cut in federal money,” she said. “We are not expecting it but we have to be prepared.”
Dyer said when completed, the facility should see another three or four people added to the local payroll. That is expected to bring a total of 15 employees. “There will be a fulltime mental health person onsite as well as parent/child therapy and telemedicine classes.” The facility will combine medical and dental services under one roof.
Public Works director Ron Casey told HEDA members he is working with Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Dyer about traffic signage at the site. “ODOT will have to do a traffic study to see if it warrants some work,” he said.
Just approved at the site was a 30 foot easement to get electricity to the facility.
Casey said new outdoor grills have been installed at Nichols and McCutcheon parks as well as Jim Hall Lake. Those grills are part of the work from the Union Sportsmen Alliance.
Work has been completed on the east side water tower and the drying beds at the water treatment plant. “That will give up the opportunity to start working on the water tower on the hill (overlooking) town), he said.
Sewer connections at the city-owned property west of town will be getting work in the coming months. Casey said he has several different plans ready to be used by different retail businesses once the line is in place.Mayor Jennifer Clason said the Quik Trip project is not dead yet.
“We have been fighting ODOT and have approval for an entrance only,” she said. That has put another kink in what they are doing.”
She told HEDA members that projections call for Quik Trip to pull 50,000 cars a day to that business.
“They are closing on some property now but that is not unusual. They will sit on property and keep competitors out.”
She stressed the need for the retail business since, “we have four businesses going out right now.” Those include Bob’s Clothing, Kern’s Korner, Neals Furniture and Imperial Jewelry.
“There are some other businesses looking at coming to town next spring but I am not at liberty to say who they are. They are afraid they would get seedback from people who don’t want businesses in town.”