County, city officials continue to discuss infrastructure east of 33/35

The Logan County Public Trust held an early morning meeting on Tuesday for a discussion on the current and future infrastructure to the east of Interstate 35 along Highway 33.

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Representatives from the City of Guthrie, Love’s Travel Stop and Valero each discussed the issue with Trust members, who also serve as county commissioners (Marven Goodman, Mike Pearson and Monty Piearcy).

With no public sanitary sewer system east of the interstate, Loves requested financial assistance from the City of Guthrie and Logan County to help fund the line project, which included running the line under the interstate. Both the City and County agreed to help aid the project with $150,000 with the county approving a tax increment finance and the City through a sales tax rebate. Related story: City and Love’s Travel Stop agree to 5-year sales tax rebate

Piearcy began the meeting by saying, “My concerns are right-of-ways, $100,000 fee for tapping into a public line and I want it to be a public line for everybody. If aint that, I’m out.”

City of Guthrie City Manager Bruce Johnson said he met last week with the engineers for both convenience stores and Pearson on the city’s stance and vision on the outlook of the area, that has seen an increase in a number of businesses.

“I agree completely the City of Guthrie desires that we have public sanitary sewer collection available for all businesses who go in the future. That has been my outlook since I have taken a look at the agreements,” Johnson said, who took over the city manager position in July.

Johnson addressed the $100,000 question presented by Piearcy, that a business would need to pay to hook up to the public sewer line.

“I am not as concern about that because we are going to pay our portion to make sure that sanitary sewer line is over there, but I have some concerns myself. I personally not going to have anyone pay $100,000 in order to put a tap into our collection system. I want to treat everyone fairly and equitably and at the end of the day the City of Guthrie honor its commitment to Loves and the county on this project of $150,000.”