Water woes again for Heavener

Water woes again for Heavener

By CRAIG HALL

The Heavener Utilities Authority met in a special meeting while the City Council met in a regular business meeting Thursday at Heavener’s City Hall.

For the HUA meeting, present were Alan Vickers, Peggy Persons, Marvin Meredith, Jim Roll, Joey Clubb, Mayor Max Roberts and Chris Bradford.

The photo above was taken by Marvin Meredith on Oct. 26. The picture was taken on East C Street looking south toward the Medical Center. At the time the picture was taken, Heavener had not received any rain in October and only .96 inches in September. It was so dry a burn ban was issued by the county commissioners two days after the photograph was taken

The HUA began the meeting talking about water leaks and how much they were costing the city.

According to Meredith, during the fiscal year for 2022-2023, unaccounted water was 177 million gallons, which cost the HUA $302,660. During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the water loss dropped to 151,284,983 gallons, which was a total of $257.287. So during that two-year period, Meredith said the unaccounted water loss cost the city over half a million dollars.

Later in the meeting, he showed a portion of the contract between U.S. Water and the HUA showing U.S. Water was responsible for unaccounted water loss.

Meredith then showed a picture slide of water leaks, including ditches and the oil branch with standing water, even though the pictures were taken Oct. 26 and there had been no rain in October up to that point and only .96 inches of rain in September so there had been less than an inch of rain in almost 60 days.

He said there was some six inches of water in the oil branch, despite the lack of rain. Meredith also spray painted to mark all the leaks he came across.

Meredith also got the water tested to determine if it was water coming from Heavener’s water supply. A representative from U.S. Water, which oversees Heavener’s water system, told Morrison it was not from the city’s supply. Morrison then took it to another organization for a test where it was determined the water was from the City of Heavener’s supply based on the tests, which showed fluoride in the water.

One of the sources for the water loss was a water pipe underneath the railroad near the Garden Walk Apartments. The City has checked with KCS about boring a new hole to stop the leak, but Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern Railroad said the bore must be 15-feet deep, instead of the current boring, which is six feet deep. It would virtually be impossible to bore a hole that deep.

A few other alternatives were discussed, but nothing was determined.

During the Council part of the meeting, the City decided to give Donna Martin and John C. Rye more time to fix a roof before a code violation is issued. She has applications filled out and is going to the bank to attempt to get funding to repair the roof on the house at 607 East Avenue C.

A right-of-way was approved for Dobson, which will bring additional fiber to the City. It will also allow Dobson to offer internet to residences and not strictly business addresses, which is the current standard.

The City then discussed additional help with preparing audits with Clay Caughern of Wells Accounting Services. He stated he wanted to help get the audits finished to allow Heavener to be able to access more grants. City officials estimated the 2022-2023 audit should completed shortly and then work will begin on the 2023-2024 audit, which will get the city caught up on its audits.

After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to stay with the current system until the 2022-2023 audit is completed and then the City will visit the issue again.

The Council, which had Roberts, Bradford, Clubb, Meredith and Roll in attendance, then went into an executive session to discuss resumes submitted by the following for the open city manager position.

Applicants are Chase Waggoner, Chelsea Sweet, Craig Hull, Hunter Church, James Lockhart, Jamie Scarcelli and Robert Brennand.

No action was taken on the city manager position.

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