District 2 Commissioner: Charter Oak project has upcoming challenges

I am pleased to announce my recovery from recent unforeseen medical issues. It brings me great pleasure to provide this update and many more to come. A special thank you goes out to my family, friends and co workers who supported me throughout my recovery.

Charter Oak Rd has upcoming challenges facing our district with the new Guthrie elementary school planned for opening in late 2018. Bids for construction should be opened and awarded by the end of March. New additions and commercial growth are planned in addition to construction of the new school. We are currently pursuing Federal funding to upgrade the Douglas and Charter Oak intersection. Construction cannot occur for at least 5 years and only if we are successful at competing for these funds against the other ACOG members including Edmond and Norman.

Reconstruction of Charter Oak and Douglas intersection could be completed in a year for half the cost of federal or state funding. A Reinvestment Review Committee was authorized by the BoCC last year to study possibilities using the increase in property tax revenue from new property developments in the Charter Oak and Douglas area.  It is our goal to pay for any TIF funds within five years. The review committee is chaired by myself and composed of representatives from Guthrie School District, Meridian VoTec, Logan County Health Department, Guthrie EMS I-1 and three volunteer citizens. My presentation has changed to include three lanes a east a half mile, three lanes north approximately a quarter mile, a two lane west about  half a mile and a northbound turn lane located south of this intersection. The TIF would have to be acceptable to the committee and the BoCC. Another challenge is the Woodcrest Volunteer Fire Department at Charter Oak and Douglas. Their plans are to construct a new fire station on the southern side of the current building prior to the new school opening.

A Pre-work meeting was held Tuesday for the interim upgrade of the Waterloo and I-35 intersection. The stop signs are being upgraded to traffic signals. The Waterloo turn lanes will be worked on, too.  Construction is planned to begin on Monday, April 3rd and should be completed by May with good weather.

Rural Water District 1 is constructing a new waterline. It connects to the existing waterline at the Charter Oak Hills addition, continues down the south side of Charter Oak to Anderson, and then on the east side of Anderson down to Simmons. It will service a new 200 acre addition that is under construction.

The Luther Rd Right of Way acquisition should be completed for the first two miles north of Waterloo in a few weeks. ODOT can then pay the owners out of CIRB funds. These are funds which the county can receive for projects that come from Vehicle Use Tax. The funds are controlled by ODOT which has more expensive requirements than if controlled by the counties. A bill introduced by State Rep Jason Murphey, HB 1162, that will allow the counties to receive these funds directly beginning in 2022.

Prairie Grove Rd between Pine and I-35 is planned for paving by District 3. Half of the funding for asphalt comes from local citizen contributions.

Logan County citizens with unwanted furniture, appliances and junk have made good use of the District 2 roll off dumpster. Illegal dumping in creeks and on the side of roads has decreased significantly over the last few years. This service is free to all Logan County residents (non commercial) and is partially paid for with a federal grant. We have a used tire dump and a metal scrap pile, too. We are at 1550 N Midwest that is located one mile north of the Loves Truckstop at the I-35 and Hwy 33 intersection. Our gates are open 7:30-4 Monday through Friday.

Please do not count on “someone else” to keep us informed on our road conditions.  Our office number is 282-3405. My cell phone number is 405-650-0384 (text okay). You can also report a road condition at commissiondistrict2@gmail.com. We will respond as soon as we are able.

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