[ Ed. Note: Michael D. Mendel has authorized the Times and Free Press to publish this announcement of his candidacy for Office 1, Board of Trustees, Town of Okarche, subject to the April 2 municipal election.]

My wife, Kim, and I are lifelong residents of Okarche. We have raised two children in the community and now have grandchildren that we want to see grow up here. We believe that Okarche is the best town in Oklahoma and have worked in many capacities to help keep the town we love the best that it can be and we want to continue to give back to the community that has given so much.

I am a retired volunteer fireman of 20 years for Okarche. I was also the lay coach for junior high and high school softball for three years, which restarted the school softball program.

A $1 million bond issue was passed in 2000 and used to buy a new fire engine to replace our 1972 engine that was barely passing pumping requirements, a water tower that provides an additional 250,000 gallons of water storage and a 12-inch water main from the water tower to provide sufficient water supply to Industrial Avenue and fire hydrants along the line. This package lowered our ISO rating which lowered insurance premiums for homeowners.

Water rates were raised for the first time in 20 years to pay for the bond. The board looked for other means to pay off the bond and proposed a 1.5 percent sales tax in 2005, which was voted in by the people, so that water rates would not have to be increased. The sales tax increase helped pay off the bond 11 years early and since the increase, the town has carried over an additional $500,000 each year.

The board has been saving money to fund the nitrate removal process so that the town would not go into debt. We currently have a pilot program running that has our nitrate levels undetectable. The report will be sent to DEQ for approval and, if approved, the system will save the town millions of dollars. It has zero waste, which eliminates the need to acquire land and build waste water pits. The system has already been approved by California DEQ. We recently had a group from Oakley, Kan., come look at this nitrate removal equipment. We are the first in Oklahoma to implement this system and we already have communities from other states exploring this nitrate removal system.

Another project that has been completed is a new public works building. Many of the citizens may not remember the old public works building that was located on the southside of the fire station, which was constructed of used tin and had a dirt floor.

The TAPS grant for replacing Oklahoma Avenue between 81 Highway and Railroad Avenue will go out for bids in May and start construction in September and includes replacing the road, sidewalks and stoplight. Okarche’s part of the $1.5 million project is $152,000, about 10 percent of the project cost.

There have been decorative street lights, numerous street overlays and drainage issues solved, water and sewer lines replaced, a new lift station installed, a new police station, two bays added to the fire station and one more when the police station moves out of City Hall, playground equipment added to the park, resurfacing the tennis-basketball court and many other projects.

In 1999, we strip annexed a border 3.5 miles north, 7 miles east and 10 miles south of town to prevent other towns from annexing too close to Okarche.

A town without an administrator is like a school without a superintendent. A school superintendent oversees all the employees and functions and brings projects to the school board for final decisions. A town administrator has the same functions, overseeing all departments, doing the research and bringing projects to the board to decide upon. The town board is a part-time board and most trustees have full-time jobs outside of the board.

I know that the new candidates have not lived in Okarche all of their lives like I have, but longtime residents will remember the duplexes and trailer houses on Second Street and Colorado Avenue. Two businessmen in Okarche donated the land to the town and the property was cleared and now is the location of the Public Works Building. Another local resident donated 120 acres north of the lagoon to the town and the irrigation pivot was placed there, extending the life of the lagoon to a population of 2,500 people. These local families trusted the board enough to donate their land to improve the town of Okarche.

Those who argue that we need change in our town government are ignoring these and other town improvements during my tenure. Okarche is in the best condition it has ever experienced. All of the town departments are staffed with the most capable, courteous and hard workers ever and are being held accountable for the jobs they do. There is cooperation and teamwork between all departments and all are on Team Okarche to provide the citizens with the type of service they deserve.

My father taught me that if you had to tell someone your own worth and they could not see this for themselves, then you were not doing the best job you could do. I hope the people have been able to see that I have gone out and performed the tasks presented before me to the best of my ability and without personal gain for the last 20 years. I humbly ask for your support and vote on April 2 to keep Okarche the best it can be.