State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) and State Rep. Glen "Bud" Smithson (D-Sallisaw) announced in a Wednesday press release that the Rural Economic Action Program (REAP) grant was awarded to the Gans Utility Authority during the April 19 meeting of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Kevin Wilson, a community technician for the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD) in Muskogee, which handles the REAP grants, said the grant will be used to make a water line extension up to the existing water town and to rehabilitate the existing water tower. The project is expected to include the installation of 5,100 feet of eight-inch line.
Wilson explained that the grant is funded on a competitive basis through the state water board and noted that Gans has been on the list to be funded for three years.
Wilson said Gans buys its water from Sequoyah County Water District No. 3 and then distributes that water to its customers. The town is currently restricted by the Department of Environmental Quality from adding any more customers to the system, which Wilson noted stops growth to a town because new businesses can't be added.
"The project is critical," Wilson said.
Wilson said currently Gans' system can't meet current demand, leading to a loss of water at times and low water pressure. He said the project in Gans is part of a larger future project to run a water line from Gans to Sallisaw.
"They have water supply issues on a yearly basis," Wilson said.
Wilson said extending the water lines will help with water pressure, water availability, and fire protection.
Since funding has been approved by the water board, they will now put plans and specs together and advertise and then open bids. Wilson estimated that the earliest work on the project could start is in eight to 10 weeks.
The town doesn't have to come up with matching funds because Wilson said the grant is a "stand alone grant."
Joe Freeman, chief of the Financial Assistance Program, said the award was issued by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as part of the REAP program created by the 1996 Legislature. In that program legislative leaders targeted water and wastewater improvements for Oklahoma's small communities, which are often excluded from traditional funding programs.
