Blackwell Council sets public hearing for February 20: What to know

January 15, 2025

The Blackwell City Council has scheduled a public hearing for February 20 at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Blackwell City Hall (221 west Blackwell)

The subject of the meeting is the city's proposed Capital Improvement Plan, with community input encouraged before the proposed plan is discussed that night at the council meeting.

The notice was posted at the Blackwell City Hall, Blackwell Public Library, Blackwell Fire Department, and Blackwell Police Department.

THE PLAN

The proposed 2025- 2028 Capital Improvement Plan, as prepared by the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority (NODA) is available for the public to view during business hours at Blackwell City Hall (Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

The public notice posted by the city made reference to low and moderate income-level households, which itself is a legally required clarification as part of House Bill 2375 from 1992 which calls for such capital improvement plans in moderate to low-level income communities to have assistance from various grants.

The 10-year plan determines expenses that City of Blackwell can seek grants for via NODA.

The plan is broken down in four expenditure categories: M- Mandatory, E- Essential, D- Desirable, and Y- Deferrable for items to be addressed over the next decade.

MANDATORY items cannot be postponed due to public health necessity or state / federal requirements.

ESSENTIAL items are required to maintain the community's health and welfare or prevent a future problem but no immediate risk is involved.

DESIRABLE items are required within five years to prevent obsolescence or provide for future growth.

DEFERRABLE items have no specific time constraints.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PLAN

The following is a brief summary of the proposed Capital Improvement Plan with items classified by their expenditures. The full proposed plan is available for the public to read at the City Hall building located at 221 W. Blackwell Ave during normal business hours.

BLACKWELL LIBRARY:

Desirable expense: new wheelchair elevator

BLACKWELL AIRPORT:

Mandatory expense: weather observatory.

Essential expense: base radio.

BLACKWELL FIRE DEPARTMENT:

Mandatory expense: 1,000 gallon pumper.

Mandatory expense: Storm sirens throughout the City of Blackwell.

Essential expense: a new generator for Station 2.

Essential expense: upgrades to the Police & Fire Department.

BLACKWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT:

Mandatory expense: body cameras.

Mandatory expense: police tasers.

Essential expense: upgraded police cars over 20 years.

PARKS:

Masonry work on the Blackwell Public Pool building

Desirable expense: new lights at the soccer field

Desirable expense: splash pad at Legion Park

Desirable expense: new equipment at Trapp Park

Desirable expense: new equipment at Legion Park

Desirable expense: resurfaced walking trail at Legion Park

STREETS:

Mandatory expense: 1st Street resurfaced from Doolin to Coolidge

Mandatory expense: A Street resurfaced from Doolin to Lawrence

Mandatory expense: 8th Street resurfaced from Doolin to Ash

Desirable expense: Chrysler resurfaced from 13th to B Street

Desirable expense: B Street resurfaced from Coolidge to Doolin

Desirable expense: Bridge #1 at 6th and Dewey

Desirable expense: Bridge #2 at 600 Block of west Florence and Dewey

UTLITIES (SEWER / WATER / ELECTRIC):

Mandatory expense: Four (4) SCBAs for the water plant (wearable respiratory devices)

Mandatory expense: Six Hazmat suits (6)

Mandatory expense: Two (2) face masks

Mandatory expense: Water Plant generator for high pressure pumps

Essential expense: Skid Steer for Water Department C & D

Essential expense: Two (2) trucks for Water Department C & D

Essential expense: Water Department C & D roof replacement

Essential expense: Water Plant Roof

Essential expense: Total rehabilitation for Water Plant Project

Desirable expense: Excavator for the Water Department C & D

Desirable expense: forklift for Water Plant

Desirable expense: dump truck for Water Plant

Desirable expense: equalizer basin (ramps needed, cleaning needed) for wastewater

Mandatory expense: tree trimming along electrical lines to avoid future disasters

Essential expense: leaky roof at the electrical warehouse

Essential: insulation at the electrical warehouse

CODE ENFORCEMENT:

Essential expense: The City of Blackwell needs to demolish twenty houses

Desirable expense: The City of Blackwell needs to acquire a big scanner, plotter, and printer for the Code Enforcement Department

Desirable expense: The City of Blackwell needs to upgrade existing maps, changes, and software for Code Enforcement

Desirable expense: A pickup truck for the Code Enforcement Department.

CITY HALL:

Essential expense: replacement air conditioner for City Hall

Essential expense: replacement windows at City Hall

Essential expense: elevator upgrade

Desirable expense: replacement air conditioner for City Hall

Desirable expense: men's restroom upgrade

In total, the 10-year plan comes to a total of $45,975,018 which will be submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce through NODA where the various expenses and needs will be explored through available grants including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Rural Economic Action Plan Grants (REAP) among other funding sources.

PUBLIC HEARING

The public hearing to discuss the proposed plan will be held on February 20 at 5:45 p.m. at Blackwell City Hall 221. West Blackwell Ave.

The meeting will be recapped in the February 26 issue of the Journal-Tribune.