Published: June 25, 2009 10:51 am      

Utilities heading south

After years of talk, it’s about to happen.

City councilors have awarded a bid for two projects that will provide major utility extensions along both sides of U.S. Highway 69, heading south in McAlester.

It will open up even more areas for development along the heavily-traveled highway.

In addition, a third project is in the works for the coming fiscal year to extend a sewer line heading south on the highway’s east side to Riverside Autoplex and the new Convenant Church.

“It will be a big plus for the city,” said City Utilities Director David Medley.

City councilors awarded the bid during their regular Tuesday night meeting for the first two phases of the extension. Bravo Construction in Wilburton submitted the winning low bid of $228,068.16 for the combined projects.

Plans on the west side of the highway call for construction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of water main and approximately 1,500 linear feet of sewer main, extending south from an existing line on Fourteenth Street.

On the east side of the highway, the project calls for the construction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of sewer main expansion, extending an existing line south to Village Boulevard.

City Utilities Director David Medley said Wednesday the first project will connect to existing lines close to the Walnut Grove Living Center, near 14th Street.

“We’re going to put in a new eight-inch sewer line and a new eight-inch water line and basically continue south on 69,” he said. Plans call for the lines to continue to an area around the Farm Bureau Insurance building and the Choctaw Nation Health Center.

Those two facilities already have city water and sewer service from lines that enter from another direction, Medley said. The new work will provide the utilities around the highway frontage area.

“We’re just connecting everything together,” Medley said. “This will basically allow about a half-mile, about 2,000 feet” that can be developed along the highway, he said.

The other portion of the project calls for the construction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of sewer main expansion along the east side of U.S. Highway 69 to Village Boulevard.

“The Village Boulevard project is a continuation of a 10-inch sanitary sewer line,” Medley said.

It will go south from the Nix Auto Center, basically across the highway from KFC, to Village Boulevard, roughly across the highway from Braum’s, Medley said.

“This will provide service to the new fire station planned at Village Boulevard and provide service to Sears,” he said. It will also make service available for some lots on Village Boulevard, Medley noted.

Although it’s not included in the current project at this point, the city plans to later continue with plans to extend a 10-inch line another 3,300 feet to Riverside Autoplex, Medley said.

“We’ll have funds for it starting July 1,” he said. Because the city is installing gravity lines, no new lift or pump stations should be needed.

The city has economic development funds available for the project, Medley said. Plans calls for the project to be completed within 90 days after work begins.

During the council meeting, Ward 6 Councilor Sam Mason asked if there were any red flags raised as to why there was $250,000 between the lowest bid submitted by Bravo Construction, and the high bid of $506,010.55, submitted by Bowen Construction, in Oklahoma City. The city received a total of seven bids on the project.

Project Manager Robert Vaughn of Mehlburger Brawley, which is overseeing the project, said he feels confident Bravo Construction can complete the project in a professional manner.

Vaughn indicated now is an opportune for the city to be accepting bids on such projects, because a lot of contractors are needing the work.

Referring to the city utilities expansion, Ward 3 Councilor John Browne said “We’re going to make some of this property pretty valuable.” He asked if there had been any discussion about having some of the property owners share the costs.

City Manager Mark Roath said at least one landowner would be willing to pay for 50 percent of the project.

Ward 1 Councilor Chris Fiedler asked about continuing the utility expansion to the area around the Riverside Autoplex and the New Convenant Church.

Medley said if the council agreed, he could see about expanding the project to include those areas. Roath suggested he check on some legalities before the council pursued that option.

However, even if that expansion is not included on the current project, plans are still being developed for that extension during the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, Medley said on Wednesday.

Roath noted that the project along the highway should help McAlester in more ways than one.

“We’re pumping money back into the economy when the economy needs it now,” he said.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.