Commissioner Marven Goodman: Increase in illegal dumping along county roads

We all look forward to springtime in our part of Oklahoma. The new growth and everything greening up gives us a sense that Mother Nature is cleaning up the muddy and cold mess from winter.  One mess that Mother Nature takes a long time to clean up is the litter and trash that gets dumped on our county roads.  

Our road crews are noticing an increase in illegal dumping along our county road system.  In addition to being an eyesore it costs our county taxpayers to have these messes cleaned up.  Even on Broadway from Waterloo to SH 33 it’s hard to find any stretch that is not full of litter and trash.  We would like to ask everyone to help us keep our roads and streets clean and safe. Please don’t litter, and report those you see dumping trash along our roadways to our County Sheriff.

As a reminder, we still have a solid waste collection site set up at the District 1 office, 2315 SW 19th St., Guthrie, OK. The collection site is for solid waste only. We cannot accept garbage of any kind, food or vegetation, hazardous materials, appliances containing Freon, rubber tires, paint or liquids. The dumpster is available to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mon. through Fri., except for holidays. We ask that you check in at the office before dumping. Please help us keep our roads and highways clean and safe.

We have completed the repair of one guardrail safety systems on Broadway between Simpson and Simpson Lane. The repair crew will be working on the safety guard rails at Broadway and Simmons next week.

Our asphalt and road maintenance crew has been active this last week fixing potholes, trimming trees on the right of way and installing new road and traffic control signs.  If you know of a really bad one, please let us know.

W. Forrest Hills update from last week: We met with the asphalt paving contractors Monday, February 9th, and agreed on the final project details.  We began work early this week to finish the final grade and preparation. The contractor has started paving the mile from Broadway to approximately where Bryant would come out, or just east of Maple Ridge Lane and should finish by next Monday.

Still temporarily closed: Bridge located 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Prairie Grove and MacArthur (Cashion, OK 73016 35.846574, -97.620900). A pipeline construction crew was working around the bridge when it was damaged due to a non-injury accident with heavy equipment. As soon as the construction crew finishes their pipeline work around the bridge we will get back in there and get it fixed.

Right of way utility relocation continues on Coltrane between Waterloo and Seward: It started February 7th, 2015, and will be finished before August 6th, 2015. Rural Water District 1 is relocating utilities in support of expanded right of way preparation. Based on our discussions with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Circuit Engineering District #5 (CED5), the earliest completion date of paving Coltrane is estimated sometime in 2017.

We should complete our inventory of all District 1 equipment and expendables early next week.  We are close to completing our corrective action plan to fix the inventory issues and find the seemingly lost equipment to quickly put the District back in compliance with state statutes. This is in response to the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s published Logan County, District 1, Turnover Audit.  Finding 2015-01 shows Inadequate Internal Controls and Noncompliance Over Fixed Assets.

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Marven Goodman

Commissioner

District 1, Logan County