The city-owned parking lot at Fifth and Trudgeon is going to be ready for use in a few weeks
At the January Henryetta Economic Development Authority (HEDA) meeting Monday, city public works superintendent Ron Casey said the bidding process is going to start for the project. That will include concrete transition between two levels of the lot as well as placement of steel railings around the borders and striping for parking spaces.
He said the project is estimated to cost around $25,000.
Casey told Authority members that work on a water line project along the railroad tracks is ahead of schedule. That work is installing a new water line from Corporation past Trudgeon. It involves boring under Main Street and replacing a decades-old cast iron water line with new poly pipe. The project is being funded through a couple of grants.
Okemah businessman Andrew Benson was at the meeting and presented his desire to purchase some seven acres of property owned by the city at the west I-40 exit. He said he wants to put in a combination hardware and auto parts business that would empty some ten to 15 people.
Benson said he originally wanted to purchase a building downtown but was unable to complete the project.
Because he was not on the agenda, HEDA members could not take any action on the plan.
Part of the meeting included reorganization of the board with sitting chair Keith Estes remaining in that position and Jill Francis as vice-chair.