City of Muskogee

PROJECT PURPOSE

The City of Muskogee is requesting funding to upgrade and rehabilitate the waterline and appurtenance that supplies the historic Black town of Taft with water service. The Taft waterline not only services Taft, but also two state correctional facilities in Muskogee County. The existing line was installed in 1960 and is in critical need of rehabilitation to prevent a catastrophic failure. The line needs to be upgraded with new pumps, manifolds and a new waterline. A dependable supply of water is absolutely necessary for the social, economic and environmental well-being of Taft. Muskogee County Commissioners are in full support of this project and have committed matching funds to assist the city with this project. Revenue impact: We cannot determine a specific revenue amount at this time but it would generate greater water capacity in the region, and therefore higher future water distribution revenue for the City.

EVIDENCE

Performance will be measured by the completion of this project according to schedule and budget.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The historic Black town of Taft has a rich legacy as one of only 13 surviving all-Black towns in Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Taft was 250 with 79% of the community Black. The poverty rate sits at 31.7% with a Median Household Income of $31,875, $14,000 below the state average. Taft is a poor, minority and aging population that has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to restricted access to health services and socioeconomic challenges that limit consistent broadband access, economic development opportunities and adequate infrastructure. Taft also provides water to two Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities: the Jess Dunn and the Eddie Warrior Correction Centers. COVID-19 has dramatically impacted prisoners throughout Oklahoma. Both the Dunn and Warrior facilities have experienced outbreaks requiring significant isolation and quarantine measures. Available access to clean water for institutional sanitation is essential to help reduce transmission of the virus. Rehabilitation of the Taft waterline will safeguard water access for the residents of Taft and the state correctional facilities, both of which have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Moreover, the remediation of identified problems will further promote economic development and provide stability to the community.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

In the Cowan Group Engineering 2017 Water Distribution System Model for the City of Muskogee report, the Taft waterline project is indicated as a short term project to be completed between 2020 and 2029. The report cites inadequate water pressure at Jess Dunn Correctional facility, resulting from low levels in the City of Muskogee Radio Hill Tank and the inoperable condition of the Muskogee Pump Station in Taft and states?To increase the pressure in the Taft water line, a connection between the Haskell 12-inch line and the Taft 10-inch line is recommended? ? ?this connection would include a pressure reducing station between the Taft and Haskell waterlines to regulate the pressure in the Haskell waterline to a pressure which would fill the Jess Dunn tank without the use of the City of Muskogee pump station in Taft or the pump in the base of the Jess Dunn tank.? This would solve current low pressure problems at Jess Dunn Correctional Facility.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding