In a nearly six hour-long meeting, Norman City Council approved two contracts with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, setting into motion progress on the Toby Keith Expressway — one of two controversial turnpikes that would cut through the city.
Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman's response following city council’s approval of turnpike contracts
Water well relocation
The news: Council approved a contract with the OTA to relocate water wells and water lines in northwest Norman for the future construction of the Toby Keith Expressway.
The contract relocates four groundwater wells and approximately 20,000 linear feet of water lines presently located between 48th Avenue Northwest and 24th Avenue Northwest, according to a staff report.
The OTA will pay the city of Norman $8.95 million to relocate the water wells.
According to the staff report, this payment could help support the city improvements per the AIM Water Plan — a master plan which analyzes Norman’s water system capacity and supply needs — to support future water demands.
“The $8.95 million from this agreement for the four wells to be relocated could provide an offset for those required capital funds,” the report reads.
The city's total cost for the project is a maximum of $1.9 million, according to the report.
“If completed as a separate project by the City, this project would be expected to cost between $2 to $3 million,” the report reads.
Per the agreement, the city of Norman will provide and approve designs, allow access for relocation work and remove the affected waterwells by Dec. 31, according to the presentation.
What they’re saying: Ward 5 Councilmember Brandon Nofire said he sees these contracts as a bribe.
“It’s the OTA, it's an organization that's notorious for making their own rules and not even playing by those rules,” Nofire said. “I do see this as a bribe, it's blood money to essentially get the city to work with them… I can only speak for myself but I do not accept blood money and I will never betray any of my constituents.”
Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman told the Daily in an interview after the meeting the city intends to relocate the wells.
“One of (the wells) has been hit twice by cars on I-35 somehow flying off the interstate and crashing into it,” Holman said. “From what I understand, city staff are working on plans to move that one.”
Holman said he is against the turnpike and he doesn’t find the OTA to be a trustworthy organization, but said the city has a responsibility to look out for the interests of Norman as a whole.
“I don't want the turnpike in Norman and residents have made it clear they don't want OTA in our city,” Holman said. “The fact that part of this project has started construction could impact our infrastructure, it's something we have a responsibility to look out for… Sometimes that conflicts with the interests of a large group of residents who are opposed to something like the turnpike.”
Rob Norman, Ward 3, said he was concerned the contract approval would send the message that the city of Norman is in favor of the turnpike.
“Don’t give (the OTA) something tonight that they can go wave in front of the courts and say Norman is in favor of this,” Norman said.
The vote: Council voted 7-2 to approve the contract. Nofire and Ward 7 Councilmember Kimberly Blodgett voted against the item.
Stormwater sewer system
The news: Council approved a contract with the OTA regarding a past bond project, permitting the authority for construction and maintenance on water systems in northwest Norman.
According to a staff report, the OTA intends to collect stormwater north of Indian Hills Road and transport it south along 36th Avenue Northwest in an underground reinforced concrete box.
Phase 2 has an estimated construction cost of $16 million dollars. However, through the contract with the OTA, the city is only responsible for paying $2.2 million toward the project.
According to the report, the contract was prompted by a lack of space within 36th Avenue Northwest for OTA to install its own reinforced concrete box storm sewer system.
Through the agreement, the OTA and the city will be able to “streamline construction schedules” for the project, according to the report.
The project includes:
Widening the roadway from two to four lanes
Interconnecting all traffic signals between Tecumseh Road and Indian Hills Road
Stormwater improvements
Sidewalks along the west side of 36th Avenue Northwest and a ten-foot-wide multi-use trail on the east side
On Aug. 28, 2012, Norman residents voted in favor of a transportation bond that included improvements to city roads, drainage and overall congestion. The 36th Avenue Northwest project is the last project of the 2012 transportation bond awaiting completion.
What they're saying: Multiple residents said they plan to vote against all items on the April 7 ballot due to the contracts’ approval by council members.
“If you're upset with the council, voting no doesn't hurt us up here,” Holman said, referring to the rest of the council, in response to these strong reactions from the people.
Several residents said they did not feel represented by council members’ stances on the contracts.
“Please be the council we elected you to be,” Karlinda Gravel, Ward 4, said.
The vote: Council approved the contract 7-2. Blodgett and Nofire voted against the agreement.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure.
