Francis Public Works Authority Receives $2,730,000 Water System Funding from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Francis Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for $2,730,000 in funding with $950,000 in principal forgiveness on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.
The Authority is undertaking a critical infrastructure project to replace its aging water tower, originally installed in 1911. The tower is at risk of failure due to structural deterioration, including cracking, spalling, and an unstable foundation. The project will include constructing a new water tower, looping dead-end water lines to improve system reliability, and completing all necessary enhancements to meet state construction standards.
These upgrades will ensure the Authority can maintain water pressure, improve distribution efficiency, and provide a safe, reliable water supply to the community. The estimated $2,830,000 project will be funded through an ARPA grant of $1,000,000, a Rural Infrastructure Grant of $100,000, and a DWSRF loan of $1,730,000 with $950,000 in principal forgiveness.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $3,800,600 compared to traditional financing. The DWSRF loan will be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s water, sewer, and sanitation revenues and may include a mortgage on the water and sewer systems.
Francis Public Works Authority’s officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Mayor James Fowler and Gary Kinder, consulting engineer. “We appreciate you for having us and the consideration for the loan,” said Fowler.
“This $2.7 million in funding will go a long way toward helping Francis Public Works update its critical water infrastructure so all residents have an uninterrupted supply of clean water,” said Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada. “Thanks to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for this investment that will allow the town to replace aging water lines, storage tanks and a more than 100-year-old water tower that is at risk of failing.”
"I am grateful for the funding awarded to the Francis Public Works Authority and Stonewall Public Works Authority, which will bring much-needed infrastructure improvements to our community. Safe and reliable water is essential, and these critical investments in these projects will not only address immediate concerns but also ensure access to clean water for generations to come," said Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada. "I sincerely thank the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their commitment to supporting rural communities like ours. Their dedication to improving vital infrastructure will have a lasting impact, and I look forward to seeing these improvements benefit our residents for years to come."
Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB, and Rob Singletary, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), express their sincere appreciation to State Senator Jonathan Wingard and State Representative Ronny Johns for their support of the DWSRF program.
The DWSRF program is administered by the OWRB and the ODEQ with partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DWSRF program has provided approximately $2.4 billion in drinking water loans to provide communities with the resources necessary to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our valuable water resources statewide.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $7.8 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
