DUNCAN – The Duncan Public Utilities Authority recently authorized the city to proceed with emergency repairs for a 24-inch water supply line that was damaged by flooding earlier this year.
The authority, which is made up of the five Duncan City Council members, voted 4-0 July 22 to hire Miller Construction and Sons to make the repairs for $149,500. Mayor Robert Armstrong could not attend the meeting.
Flooding damaged the water supply line from Duncan’s water treatment plant to the Elk water towers at the Cow Creek crossing on April 26, according to a July 22 memo from City Manager Chris Deal. After the floodwaters receded, city officials decided that installing a new line crossing would be the best and most cost-effective way to repair the damage.
The new line will be at least six or seven feet underneath the existing creek bed to preserve the line’s integrity and help prevent future problems, Miller Construction President and owner Kenny Miller said in a letter to public works director Buddy Hokit.
“In my opinion, this is the only permanent solution,” Miller said. “If the line remains in its current state, I would not feel confident in our ability to continue making repairs without risk of future breaks.”