The process to upgrade the water line that feeds the water towers on the hill above Henryetta started Tuesday night.
That Community Development Block Grant/REAP application comes on the heels of a water line break last week that shut down water service to residents on the hill for nearly a day.
If approved, the grant would be in excess of $700,000 but is not expected to be announced soon.
“It takes nine months to a year to get approved,” said mayor Jennifer Munholland, “then bidding could be a year after that.”
The hearing for the grant was held at a special 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday prior to the regular January council meeting.
At the regular meeting, council members approved seven agenda items that were related to the grant application. They included a resolution allowing the application, the citizens participation plan, authorizing Munholland to sign all grant-related documents, and working with the Eastern Oklahoma Development District ()EODD) to administer the grant. Also approved were leverage and fair housing resolutions and anti displacement relocation assistance plan. Those were required even though Munholland said no residents would be displaced by the work.
In other business, the council denied a 2021 tort claim by Terri Davenport. The council was advised by the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance group, the city’s insurance agency, that there was no wrongdoing on behalf of the city. No details about the claim were released. Davenport now has 180 days to file a lawsuit contesting that denial.
Council members authorized the monthly pension payments to Curtis Henley. He is retiring from the water department.
Also gaining approval a waiver of rental and deposit fees for the civic center requested by the Henryetta Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club will be hosting a dance for elementary students Feb. 11 and the chamber will hold the annual banquet Feb. 21.
A request by Shawn Herring to rezone property at 2105 West Main was approved. He requested the change from single family residential to a general residential classification in order to build some duplexes on the property. “We need new houses,” Munholland said.