Lawton City Council proposes more than $100 million in capital improvements

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  • This architectural rendering was among the many slides presented in support of the Sports Complex. This is a drawing of a similar facility located in Texas.
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LAWTON - During an Oct. 1 special meeting, Lawton City Council members voted to add more than $100 million in capital improvement projects for the city.

“We are a community worth investing in, and we are investing in our future,” said Lawton City Manager Michael Cleghorn. Mayor Stan Booker and the council reviewed projects and unanimously voted to have city staff and counsel draw up the proposal for the Jan. 14 ballot. When asked about the expediency of the proposals, Mayor Booker said, “I hear one of two things: We’re either moving too fast ... or we’re moving too slow. So maybe we’re just about right.

“What we’re doing today is not a final vote on the CIP; we’re just sending it to staff to get it ready. Hopefully, we can get it done by November so we can get it voted on in January,” he added. Although it was set to expire in 2025, the council proposed indefinitely extending the 2015 half-cent sales tax to fund emergency services, water and infrastructure needs; designating $2.674 million for recruiting police and fire personnel.

Making the Emergency Reserve a top priority, the mayor stated that with the indefinite tax, an annual deposit of $250,000 would be made to the reserve. Currently, “if more money comes in than is projected, that money goes into the Reserve,” he said. He also pointed out a failing 54” sewer main and several significant upgrades are needed for the municipal water and sewer infrastructure. Those projects would also be funded by the indefinite tax.

PROPOSED CIP PROJECTS

• Complete all current CIP Projects ($5 million). Council wanted to allocate $5 million in order to finish works that were postponed due to the construction of the Public Safety facility. Those delayed projects include the library, tearing down the police station, and improvements for Rogers Lane and Gore Boulevard.

D&D PROGRAM ($3.75 MILLION)

With more than 500 dilapidated structures in Lawton, the council added $3.75 million to be set aside for a five-year plan to “clean up unsafe or unsightly houses” in Lawton and provide a quarterly report to the citizens of the program’s progress, the mayor stated.

BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON JUVENILE CRIME ($6 MILLION)

Council would also designate $6 million for a commission of experts in sociology and criminal justice who will make recommendations in crime prevention programs and form quarterly reports of their progress. “Anything that is not getting the desired results, we would stop funding,” said Mayor Booker. 

PARKS AND RECREATION/ SPORTS COMPLEX ($20 MILLION)

In a unanimous decision, the council approved the allocation of $20 million for the first phase of improvements to Parks and Recreation – potentially a $50 million project overall. Creating a Parks and Recreation master plan would be the first step, said Mayor Booker, adding that the city may need to close some of the smaller parks.

Of the $20 million, Council included $8 million to help fund the 85,000 square-foot indoor sports complex proposed earlier this year. “We have to start doing things that are out of our normal box,” said Ward 8 Councilman Randy Warren. “And try to do things that are good for the kids. You know, the crime and the sociology portion – that is great, but we’ve got to have something for those kids to do.” 

BEAUTIFICATION AND CURB APPEAL ($8 MILLION)

Council unanimously approved the motion to designate $8 million for a beauty and curb appeal supplemental program that includes mowing and edging all streets, medians, parks and other city-owned properties. Originally, the mayor had budgeted $2 million for curb appeal projects. City Manager Michael Cleghorn stated that the City currently spends $366,000 in contract mowing. That total is substantially less than other cities like Lawton, Cleghorn said.

Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins, Ward 1, then brought up the citywide solid waste problem, saying she would like to see the debris removed on a regular basis. “To move us to a more rapid collection with boom trucks ... that’s about a $4 million investment in equipment,” added Cleghorn. “We hear every citizen come up here and say, ‘we don’t look good,’” said Ward 4 Councilman Jay Burk. “We’re going to have to spend money to make us look better. And if we don’t have the equipment, we’re never ever going to catch up. If you talk to most citizens, roads and what the city looks like, those are the top two things you talk about.”

“And if $4 million is needed for boom equipment – and not anything else – that’s got to be addressed somewhere,” Burk stated. Burk then made the motion to add $6 million to the amount and add three years to the proposed five-year timeframe. Council agreed to an $8 million, 8-year plan.

STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ($28 MILLION)

Improvements on Lee Boulevard, from the Good- year plant to I-44, as well as other arterial thoroughfares and residential streets, the need for more street painting apparatuses and possibly a second street sweeper, streets and sidewalk repair and preventative maintenance projects would come to $28 million for the city.

Although it was suggested to add sidewalks to the CIP, Councilman Burk said that medical marijuana taxes could be used to fund the sidewalks. “If we earmark it now – that money’s going to continue to grow,” said Burk. Last month alone, close to $48,000 was collected from medical marijuana taxes, said City Manager Cleghorn. Originally, the Streets and Sidewalks plan called for just $18 million, but after reviewing the projects and totals for crack seal and other street improvements, Mayor Booker decided to add the additional $10 million, which would be used for preventative maintenance.

Councilwoman Onreka Johnson, Ward 7, stated that several business owners on  Lee Boulevard – between 11th and 17th Streets have said they would be willing to pay for the cost of sidewalks in front of their businesses. She asked the council if there was a way to help offset their cost.

COMPLETE CITY HALL RENOVATIONS ($6 MILLION)

Council also added $6 million to be set aside to finish the renovations to City Hall. That includes moving IT and Finance departments to the central location, which should reduce the city’s utility costs and be more convenient for the citizens, added Councilman Warren.

MCMAHON AUDITORIUM AND ARTS AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL ($5 MILLION)

With $4.75 million designated to fund the McMahon Auditorium and $250,000 for the Arts and Humanities, Councilman Warren stated, “I think we owe it to the McMahon Foundation to take care of the building. We’ve got to make sure it’s got heating and air conditioning,” he added. Cleghorn reminded Council of the plumbing issues, which were also included in the funding proposal.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT ($17 MILLION)

Earmarking $17 million for a water treatment plant that can process well water was also discussed. Councilman Warren explained that it will be necessary to have the money earmarked for construction. “We need to have that money ... in the bank,” said Warren. “But we don’t want to spend it right now because 10 years from now, ODEQ rules and regulations are probably going to change. The longer we can put it off, the better. But we do need to have the money.”

LAWTON-FORT SILL REGIONAL AIRPORT RENOVATIONS ($2 MILLION)

With $12 million from the federal government, the council approved $2 million for part of the renovation project for the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport terminal.

TECHNOLOGY ($12 MILLION) Apart from Industrial

Development, Council approved $12 million for technology upgrades. “A lot of this money is for upgrades and maintenance. It doesn’t do any good to purchase software if we’re not going to update it every year and have the maintenance,” said Councilman Warren.

QUARTER-CENT TAX EXTENSION AND ANY UNSPENT FUNDS FROM CIP PROJECTS

To bring industrial jobs to Lawton, Mayor Booker proposed extending the quarter-cent sales tax for 11 years. Already in place, the tax, plus all unspent funds from CIP projects would be earmarked for industrial development. Conservatively, the tax should bring in more $29 million over the next 11 years.

“We could be the most beautiful city in Oklahoma, but if we don’t have jobs for those kids, they’re not going to come and stay here,” said Councilman Warren. Mayor Booker reiterated that this meeting was not the final vote and that those numbers may change. He also stated that “it is expected that a significant portion of the Industrial Development fund will be spent on roads that are critical for industry.”