OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the State of Oklahoma, and Indian Health Service have matched funds for 14 projects in nine communities across the reservation. The expected amount of funding to be used is about $20 million.
According to MCN Director of Emergency Management Bobby Howard, the tribe’s contribution is over $6 million.
The MCN National Council passed TR 23-029, which committed to matching funds in collaboration with the state of Oklahoma for the American Rescue Plan Act Tribal Cooperation Grant Program. It allocated $57 million of ARPA funds to match tribal funds to advance collaborative water infrastructure projects.
MCN identified projects that are crucial to public health and economic growth, matching $6,750,000 to the projects.
Howard claims that each project is flowing directly through his office.
He also claims most of the systems are currently out of date.
“The systems we are going to rehab, repair or completely rebuild and replace date back to the 70’s and 80’s,” Howard said.
Howard used the City of Beggs as an example.
Beggs residents have had issues with the municipal water for years. Multiple complaints have been made by residents in many forms including public city meetings and on Facebook forums.
According to these complaints, the water pressure in the community runs low and even results in a no-water situation for the water users.
Howard claims his department had taken water buffalo trailers to the community more than eight times during the last year. This was due to the city’s recurring water issue from the previous administration.
Howard said in a water system, there is a part called a “clear well” that is an important piece to the water distribution. Somehow the previous administration completely bypassed the clear well, which was pulling water directly from Beggs Lake. This resulted in low pressure when several homes were using the water.
The restoration project is just one of the 14 taking place across the reservation, with projects in Porter, Dewar, Inola, and Wetumka, among others..
Since many of the communities on the Mvskoke Reservation are small and rural, Howard claims there is no way some of the communities could afford to update their water systems.
Citizens around the reservation can expect these water restoration projects within the next couple years. Howard claims it should not affect water usage.
This is a developing story.
