Published: November 18, 2008 10:10 am      

Stipe family seeks permit to connect home to sewer line

The embattled family of a former state senator is asking the city to ask the state for a permit to install a sewer line on a lot just outside city limits.

Wayne Stipe, who said he manages his family’s company, Stipe Investments, said a city application to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality would allow him to connect a new sewer line for his son’s home to an existing line the city already runs through his property.

The existing line runs to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, according to city utility director David Medley.

Stipe is the nephew of former state Senator Gene Stipe, convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with a Federal Election Commission investigation. He still faces four felony charges on a grand jury indictment

Thursday, a special city council meeting is set to decide if the council should authorize Mayor Kevin Priddle to sign to the application to DEQ.

The council meeting, which is open to the public, is set for 6:30 p.m. at city hall.

The DEQ application lists the city’s Public Works Authority as an applicant to build 922 feet of PVC line for a single connection to the property, which is off West Seminole Avenue.

The application also notes the city would comply with engineering specifications and plans, and would be responsible for construction, adherence to state laws, and provide access to the line.

Medley said that Stipe Investments has hired a local engineer who would be actually be responsible for building the line.

This morning, Wayne Stipe said his company purchased the land several years ago, before the sewer line was built through the property. When the line was built, he said the city was given easements for the line.

“There were grants given by the city of McAlester in exchange for the easements, which gave the property owner the right to tap into those lines,” he said. “We are only wanting the city to honor the easements given.”

Similarly, a city water line runs through the property.

According to Wayne Stipe, the sewer connection would serve a five-acre lot for his son’s home. “The soil would not percolate for a septic system,” he said of the lot. “I’ve known a 24-inch sewer main was located on the south part of the property, and that was an alternative for his sewer needs.”

An agenda report for Thursday night indicates Stipe Investments would pay the DEQ application fee and build the line.

Another part of the report indicates the connection would “serve a housing development project.” But this morning, Wayne Stipe said he has no current plans to develop the property or adjacent land owned by the company, although that could happen in the future.

“I don’t have any immediate plans to build additional homes,” he said. “What I am doing is simply planning for the future to allow for the development of those acreages.”

Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.