McAlester city council approves water plant project
Jul. 27—McAlester City Councilors unanimously voted this week to approve a project that will improve operations at the water plant.
The project involves converting the 2,400-volt system at the water treatment plant to a 480-volt system with new pumps, motors and controls.
Councilors voted to approve the total bid amount of $3,321,000 for the Notice of Award and contract with Utility Maintenance Contractors, LLC for the water treatment plant high service pump improvement project.
"This is a big project we've been waiting on for a long time," City of McAlester Public Utilities Director Nick Manning told councilors during their regular meeting July 23. "This gives us a big stride going forward at the water plant."
A portion of the project was paid from remaining funds from a previously approved Oklahoma Department of Commerce PREP/SITES grant "for activities supporting a comprehensive project to upgrade and modernize the electrical system" at the water plant.
The remaining $1.1 million in funds were previously earmarked for a project at the McAlester Regional Airport, but that project will now be funded in a different way, according to the city.
The commerce department in June tentatively approved the city's request to change where the funds are used with an application for a full change to be sent after the city council's vote.
Councils said the rest of the money for the project will come from the city's emergency fund, leaving the city with $1.8 million in the fund. The money will have to be paid back into the fund by the city.
Manning said the work will start immediately on the project.
"We're ready," Manning said.
Councilman Randy Roden asked if the electrical work being done will be protected from lightning strike, since a previous water pump was put out of commission from a strike.
City Manager Dave Andren answered the entire building will be protected from a surge caused by a lightning strike.
McAlester Mayor John Browne added that in the event of something going wrong, parts can be bought off the shelf instead of being custom manufactured.
"We can also get people to come work that are local instead of calling them in from everywhere else," Manning added.
The city has been working with Infrastructure Solutions Group and also with Public Service Company of Oklahoma on the plans to convert the voltage at the Water Treatment Plant.
Manning said in a previous city council meeting converting the voltage from 2,400 volts to a 480-volt system will be advantageous for operating the facility. It would prove especially beneficial if there's an electrical problem, he maintained.
"Right now, we have a system either it's all on or it's all off," Manning said. He also referred to the catastrophic situation at the Water Treatment Plant in 2023, which resulted in a temporary loss of water to the city as well as to its rural water customers.
Councilman Justin Few asked how many pumps are included the project with Manning answering that four pumps are a part of the project.
"It gives us four pumps and it also lets us keep the old ones in case we need them," Manning said.
When asked by Councilman Chris Stone if the old motors can be sold, Andren said the motors were specifically made for the voltage at McAlester's treatment plant and that the only two other places in the U.S. that still use those motors are not water plants.
"I don't know if we'll ever be able to sell them," Andren said.
