After it was approved by the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, a contract to purchase the water storage rights from the Sardis Reservoir was changed by staff members of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to play down a controversial section, a public group opposed to the sale charged this week. Under negotiations by state Treasurer Scott Meacham and officials from Oklahoma City since September 2009, the contract originally specified a $15 million "reimbursement" that would be paid to the state. Those funds, the contract said, would be paid "after the OWRB approves a final order issuing a permit to the OCWUT.
A controversial plan to sell water and water storage rights from the Lake Sardis reservoir in southeastern Oklahoma to the city of Oklahoma City was approved by a municipal trust this week, despite the protests of three Native American tribes and an organization opposed to the sale. On Monday members of the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust voted unanimously to approve a storage contract transfer agreement with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, which manages the Sardis reservoir.
Even though the status of its Sardis Lake contract remains in limbo and has not been approved by federal officials, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust recently paid more than $143,000 in annual maintenance and operation costs at the southeastern Oklahoma reservoir, documents obtained by The Journal Record show. Dated Dec. 27, 2010, an invoice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers listed a fee of $143,680.18 in water storage operation and maintenance costs due for the Sardis Reservoir; that invoice - sent to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and not the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust - describes the fee as a billing for the state's portion of "O and M" (operation and maintenance) of water storage space in Sardis Lake.
Though Oklahoma City officials say they're simply waiting for the right time to push ahead with a request for a water permit for the Sardis Lake Reservoir, a letter from the attorney representing two Native American nations underscores one tribal leader's claim that Oklahoma City has delayed its request for a permit because of concerns over a federal lawsuit. The letter - copied to at least 15 different individuals - including Gov. Mary Fallin and the entire Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust - charged city officials with ignoring tribal efforts to reach out to the state and municipal partners to "explore a positive resolution to this emerging conflict.
Changing the public's environmental awareness and recycling behavior requires regular reminders, and even a $70,000 radio campaign can make a difference in the long run, said Debbie Ragan, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City municipal utilities department. City Council members recently approved a joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust approving a proposal from Renda Broadcasting for the radio broadcast of the "I'm an Everyday Environmentalist" campaign at a cost of $70,000. The promotion will run on four local stations from December through September, officials said.
The federal judge presiding over the Sardis Lake lawsuit has ordered a pretrial hearing for 10 a.m. Nov. 3, recently filed court documents show. S. District Judge Lee West issued the order on Oct. 14 in the lawsuit between the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes, the city of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and several state officials.
The Army Corps of Engineers won't move to endorse the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust's contract to purchase the water storage rights of the Sardis Lake Reservoir until the state's Water Resources Board issues a use permit, a corps official said Wednesday. Col. Michael Teague, commander for the corps' Tulsa district, said the Army has taken no action on the Sardis contract.
The state's two largest Native American tribes have amended their Sardis lawsuit to include the Lake Atoka Reservoir, new court documents show. On Aug. 18, the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations filed a lawsuit against the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the state in federal court, seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the OCWUT from removing water from the Sardis Lake Reservoir.
Despite having several attorneys on staff, for almost a year the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust has used outside legal counsel in its fight over the Sardis Lake reservoir. Documents provided to The Journal Record show the OCWUT hired the Denver law firm of Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite to help with the legal battle surrounding the southeastern Oklahoma reservoir.
The City Council recently approved a lease agreement between the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust and Quail Ridge Hunting & Sporting Clays to allow the use of public land for a skeet-shooting facility in southeast Oklahoma City. Business at Quail Ridge's original facility in Tecumseh had reached a level that required expansion, owner Dave Martin said. The company, founded in 1999, provides hunting land and a shooting range for sporting clays. With the new lease at 7632 SE 149th, Quail Ridge will spin off the latter into its own business unit and leave hunting behind, he said.
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