Cherokees present $1 million total for infrastructure to Gans, Roland

Christmas came early for Gans and Roland on Friday when officials from the Cherokee Nation presented $500,000 each to the two towns after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which outlines the funds will be used for infrastructure.

Cherokee Nation Chief Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, Councilman Daryl Legg, whose district is in Sequoyah County, accompanied by other tribal officials were on hand for the MOU and check presentations.

The funds will be used to expand and improve the water system for the town of Gans, and rehab the existing water plant and build a new one for the town of Roland, officials from the town reported.

Funds will be used to improve and expand the water system for the Town of Gans, according to Gans Mayor Gary McGillis, and allow the Town of Roland to build a new water tower and rehab the town’s existing water tower, Monty Lenington, Roland town manager, said.

The first stop for Chief Hoskin and other Cherokee Nation officials, which also included Dist. 6 Cherokee Nation Councilman Daryl Legg, Cherokee Nation Executive Director of Transportation Michael Lynn and Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Corey Bunch was in Gans.

The group signed the MOU with Mayor Mc-Ginnis with some of Gans town leaders also present. The actual check was not available Friday but he would be receiving it soon, Hoskin said.

“We are so appreciative to Chief Hoskin and the Cherokee Nation and Councilman Daryl Legg for their generous donation,” McGinnis said. “Our town has been stagnant. We can’t invite businesses or allow new homes to be built in Gans and we’ve had to turn people away. With a new water system, this will open so many doors for the town of Gans. I’m just excited and thankful today to be a part of Cherokee Nation.”

According to McGinnis the current water system is old, outdated and “tapped out” with 250 water customers it serves. McGinnis said he also had concerns about the current system in case it should stop working which would cause the town of Gans to shut down completely until the problem can be resolved. He estimated a new water system, which would include replacing water lines and adding a new water tank, could accommodate up to 140 more customers.

McGinnis said he appreciates Councilman Legg for his efforts in getting the money provided to the town.

The second stop was in Roland where Roland Mayor Randy Hall, Roland Town Administrator Monty Lenington and other town officials had gathered to sign the MOU and accept the check.

Hoskin said “Councilman Legg brought us here today in his district to make a donation of half million dollars and the opportunity to partner on a project I know is of great importance, which is increasing water capacity and helping upgrade a water system that will help serve this fine community.

“Anytime we are talking about water we are looking at the leadership and I appreciate Councilman Legg for making us aware of this,” he said.

Hoskin said Legg sponsored legislation for the Recovery, Respond and Rebuild Act, made possible through funding from the American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) to help rural communities within the Cherokee Nation with such needs as infrastructure. The legislation set forth a blue print of how we would spend it with a heavy emphasis on rural Oklahoma, and the best use of our funds, Hoskin said. “We were able to utilize our funds from ARPA and it would be hard to find a better way to spend the money. Deputy Chief and I talk about these things a lot. Generational impact is something we look at,” Hoskin said.

Warner said the tribe has a lot of history with Roland, mentioning the Roland casino and other projects the two have been involved in past years and partnerships they’ve developed. “I want to thank all of the Roland administrators, the council and the citizens who is who we listen to,” Warner said.

“Infrastructure is something people don’t see but it provides opportunities down the road. We’re always looking ahead. Roland has hard working individuals and we want to take care of those families. These are communities we want to take care of and we won’t forget them. What benefits the town also benefits all the people in the community. We’re always looking ahead and we’ll always have their backs.”

“Monty approached me several months back requesting help with the water tower and I wondered where in the world are going to get this money? But lo and behold, with funding from the American Relief Plan Act and a plan which fell through the cracks, not approved, made this possible,” Legg said.

“We are good partnerships with the communities in the state of Oklahoma and everyone, not just in Gans and Roland, benefits from it. I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”

Lenington said the present water tower is over 120 years old and in need of some rehab work. However, since it’s the only one the town relies on, it would have to be drained for the work.

“Without a new water tower, we can’t drain the existing tower to fix it,” he said. “I just appreciate the Cherokee Nation. They’ve helped us with a lot of projects in town. They’ve been a great partner and we appreciate everything they do.”

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and Councilman Daryl Legg accompanied by other tribal officials presented the town of Gans $500,000 which will be used to make improvements to the town’s water system, Gans Mayor Gary McGinnis said. Pictured in the front row, from the left is Dist. 5 Tribal Councilman Legg, Chief Hoskin, Gans Mayor McGinnis and Deputy Principal Chief Warner. Back row, from the left is Scott Neel-Engineer, Gans Assistant Police Chief Robert Jones, Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Corey Bunch, Cherokee Nation Executive Director ofnTransportation and Infrastructure Michael Lynn, Dallas Ledford, supervisor of the Gans Utility Authority, Marie Hallmark-Gans Town Clerk, Rheanna England-Gans Town Council member, and Karen Coady-Gans Town Clerk.

The town of Roland received a check for $500,000 Friday which will be used to rehab the current water tower and build a new one, Monty Lenington, Roland Town Manager said. Pictured in the front row, from the left is Cherokee Nation Councilman Daryl Legg, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Lenington, and Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner. Roland City officials in the back row, from the left, are Dave Richards, VP RACC; Dale Phelps, President RACC; Jeff Edwards, Town Attorney; Bill Lee, Vice Mayor; Randy Hall, Mayor; Blake Rainwater, Ward 3 Trustee; Roger Johnson, Ward 2 Trustee, and Cherokee Nation Executive Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Michael Lynn, and Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Corey Bunch.