Editor’s note: this is the first in a series on 2020 GO Bond Updates. More information will be released as we get it. Follow #2020gobond to stay in the loop!
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About $20.75 million, or a little over half, of the $40.235 million 2020 GO Bond package has been drawn down as of this July. Forty-five percent (or $9,425,027) of the draw downs has been spent or is encumbered by specific projects, and 55% (or $11,324,973) remains available.
The bond, which passed in January of 2020, includes 6 propositions, some of which involve multiple projects.
Proposition 1 covered transportation and a Downtown Master Plan (DMP), Proposition 2 Public Safety improvements, Proposition 3 public parks and recreational facilities, Proposition 4 Economic Development initiatives, Proposition 5 the construction of a new Booker T. Washington Recreation Center and improvements to its road access, and Proposition 6 additions to the Sapulpa Youth Sports Complex.
Parts of all six propositions are in progress, and many are complete.
The City of Sapulpa’s Public Works Director, Steve Hardt, told Sapulpa Times that a bid for the Highway 117 and Highway 66 connection to Ozark Trail, and its widening and signalization, was awarded to local company Cherokee Pride Construction at Monday evening’s City Council meeting for $1,228,246.
The widening and signalization of the intersection at 49th West Avenue and Highway 117 is well underway, with Right-of-Way acquisition two-thirds complete, the “potholing of pipelines in the works,” and utility conflicts in the process of being resolved and plans being developed for them. “We should know a definitive start date by the end of July,” Hardt said.
The final plans for the widening and resurfacing of the East Dewey and Mayfield Street intersection were received in May. The project will require right-of-way, and legal descriptions are currently being prepared.
Regarding road-related projects for the DMP, Hardt said “plans are expected for water and sewer line replacement in July for the alley between Park and Water.”
DMP Project Manager and local architect David Reed told Sapulpa Times that Phase1 of the same alley, from Dewey north to Hobson, is underway. “The City Council just awarded a contract on Monday night. Cherokee Pride was the successful bidder, and they started this week. They put up the road closure signs on the alley yesterday.”
Reed explained that “the goal of our alley is for it to be a ‘connection point’ from Hobson to Lee. The Hobson part will be the more ‘grownup’ side, including a brewery and a park behind the buildings on Hobson. There will be a strong connection from there to Lee, or the ‘Museum District.’ Where the Herald building is now will be a park with a little stage area, shaded seating for lunches, and public restrooms.”
Proposed Alleyway Renderings:
Sapulpa Police Chief Mike Reed confirmed that the police projects are complete, but for one. “We’re still working on our gun range with the GO Bond funds,” Reed said on Tuesday.
Sapulpa Fire Chief James Vickery said that the reconstruction of Station #3 off of South Main is “in process. There have been some delays with building materials, but everything is still on schedule for an October completion.”
The new training center and tower will take a bit longer. Vickery said that because the project “originally went out for bid in the heat of COVID-19, prices came in well above what was budgeted. We’re in the process of revisiting that. Hopefully with the cost of construction materials coming down the project will move forward.”
Economic Development Director Mark Lawson told Sapulpa Times that “Of the $4M [approved as part of the GO Bond], the City has reached an agreement with the Kante Group to reimburse up to $200K or $250K for capital expenditures for a restaurant downtown.”
Some of the completed 2020 bond projects include:
- Police vehicle replacement (Proposition 2–$278K)
- Police station HVAC and building upgrades (Proposition 2–$230K)
- Police technology and mobile data systems, including radios, computers, and upgrades (Proposition 2–$590K)
- Refurbishment of 2 fire trucks (Proposition 2–$722K)
