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The best bid on phase one of storm drainage work due to flooding on Walnut Street came in “below our construction budget,” Hennessey Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told board members last week.

The low bid of $178,605.75 from Young Contracting of Oklahoma City was accepted at the board’s Thursday night meeting.

The town’s engineering firm, Cowan Group, recommended approval. There were five other bidders.

This first phase will start at Oklahoma Avenue south on Walnut near the Cristo Rey Church and runs to 1st Street.

A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will share half of the construction and engineering costs with the town. The Northern Oklahoma Development Authority issued the grant.

Jennifer Firguar, grant administrator for NODA-Oklahoma Economic Development Authority, attended the meeting and handled the paperwork.

The second phase of the drainage project includes Third, Fourth and Fifth streets west of Mitchell Road.

No funding on that project has been approved.

Water well waterline replacement

Firguar also presented NODA’s Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) reimbursement forms for water well waterline replacement work completed by Marsau Enterprises of Enid.

Marsau bid $34,819.64 in May and got the job to install an eight-inch water line from wells 7 and 8.

Cowan’s engineering cost was $2,526 and the town will be reimbursed $37,345.64 from the federal grant.

Larger water lines “essential” on Bonita Street

The town approved an application to NODA for a 2021 REAP waterline replacement grant termed “essential.”

The town wants to replace a 1 1/4-inch water line to a 6-inch line at 6th and Bonita streets to the alley and through the 7th Street alley, and also replace waterlines along Cimarron Street from 5th to 7th streets.

Cost of the project is estimated at $130,196.67 and the town would pay half that cost if the grant is approved.

The board also approved a resolution to amend the town’s 2016 Capital Improvement Plan to include this “essential need.”

Trustee Wes Hardin said he couldn’t believe they had such a small line in town.

Mayor Bert Gritz, who is also the fire chief, said this work would also allow another fire hydrant on the west side of town.

“That’s an added benefit,” he said.

Water plant pump problem again

Repairs to one of the two “high service” pumps at the water plant were put on hold until quotes are available.

Chlorine in chemicals used to treat the water was eating up the brass in the impellers because the company that installed it were told it was for water prior to treatment.

“They were told wrong, so now we have a pump that is going out again,” Tillman told the board.

She said costs in May were $7,400, but the two quotes requested by Water Superintendent Alyssa Kubat were not available Thursday.

Vice Mayor Clif Vogt suggested they approve the purchase and limit the amount.

Gritz said a special meeting would be better so they’ll know the exact costs.

Vogt said he’d be unable later this month.

“Don’t worry, Clif,” said Hardin, “I’ll vote for you.”

Horse drawn Sinclair wagon

Simunek, who is also a local preservationist, asked the board to accept the donation of an “old horse drawn Sinclair gas delivery fuel wagon” from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Simunek said the owner wants to be able to write off the gift and the owner would get it appraised.

Gritz said he wanted to make sure the owner would pay for the appraisal and Simunek said the owner would.

Simunek said he would see that it is moved and it could be put in his restored Sinclair Station building at Third and Main streets.

He plans to give the building to the town and funds for upkeep, he said.

Hardin asked if the wagon was in Kingfisher County and Simunek said it’s in the area.

First Street Closed Wednesday evenings

Tillman said the Baptist Church is having events for children on Wednesday evenings and asked to shut down the street for two hours so that children could cross the street.

She said they’d tried it a few times and had no complaints.

The board approved the request.

Redneck Poker Run

Teresa Wright said they want to have a Redneck Poker Run fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 24, and want to have ATVs, three-wheelers and four-wheelers in town with stops at Vernost and Friends Bar.

The fundraiser is for Donnie and Patti Shaw.

“Donnie had open heart surgery,” Wright said.

Tillman said, “I told her they couldn’t have those vehicles on the state highway (Main Street) and she’d have to ask the board about using the side streets.”

The board agreed, but said they had to have a designated route.

“We will,” she said, “and everyone will stay together.”

Board members suggested she get with the police chief (who was sitting behind her) about the route and that police be available.

“Make sure they stop at all the stop signs,” said Trustee Keith Meek, who is also a reserve county deputy.

Tabled items

• Increasing rates at the “courtesy bulk trash station” on Cemetery Road was tabled. Tillman said they need to make some “drastic changes” and she needs to contract to get the area cleaned up due to many tree limbs.

Call Carol Mewherter, said Hardin.

“They’ve grinders and can take care of that,” he said.

• Sanitation pickup proposals discussed last month by the town’s provider, Waste Connections, about bulky waste pickup was also put on hold. Tillman said the town’s contract with the company isn’t up until July and she wants to put it off until renewal time.

• Two items dealing with approval of code revisions were tabled at the request of Doug Moore with Institute for Building Technology and Safety.

He told the board that their Planning Commission had questions and he hoped to get their approval with changes and present the revisions to the town board next month.

Trustee Richard Simunek asked about IBTS.

Moore said it is a non-profit organization and it works with the Oklahoma Municipal League to help communities.

“Are you a 501(c)(3)?” asked Simunek, the town’s newest board member.

“Yes,” said Moore.