The Blanchard Municipal Improvement Authority receives $9,200,000 loan from the OWRB for water and wastewater system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Blanchard Municipal Improvement Authority (Authority) received approval for a $9,200,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Authority owns and operates the water storage and distribution system for their water customers and a sanitary sewer collection, treatment, and disposal system for sewer customers. The Authority purchases water from the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust.  Blanchard is facing reasonable growth that requires upgrades to their infrastructure. The loan proceeds will be utilized to extend water and sewer lines throughout the system, upgrade a booster pump station, and construct a water storage tank.

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $2,353,200 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer and sanitation systems, a 1 cent sales tax, and a 1 cent use tax. Local officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Michael Scalf, Mayor, Robert Floyd, City Manager and David Ofsthun, Director of Finance.  Scalf said, “We are very grateful and looking forward to these infrastructure improvements.”

Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.

“We are grateful to State Senator Jessica Garvin and State Representatives Sherrie Conley and Cynthia Roe for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.

"I'm thrilled that this loan is being awarded to benefit the residents of Blanchard in their water and sewer needs. I'm grateful to the workers at the Oklahoma Water Resources Board who saw the need for this project and responded with this needed funding. This will be a great improvement for Blanchard." Representative Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle 

"I am so glad that Blanchard residents will soon see improvements to aging infrastructure, including an upgraded booster pump station and extended water and sewer lines," Cynthia Roe said. "I want to thank the Blanchard Municipal Improvement Authority for their work on this issue and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for approving this grant. I look forward to seeing these improvements take effect."

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Contact:
Joe Freeman
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov