MsfA approves archaeological survey along with environmental assessment
The Poteau salley fmprovement Authority (PsfA) approved spending A9,551 on a archaeological survey and A6,084 on an environmental assessment during Tuesday night’s PsfA board meeting at Poteau City Hall. The two projects will total a cost of A15,635.
“The county will help pay for it,” PsfA Chairman Mick Lafevers said. “There was a commitment to us for A200,000 (by the LeFlore County Commissioners) with the American Rescue Plan (Act, ARPA funds).”
PsfA Manager James Morrison said he visited with the Army Corps of Engineers by telephone with regards to the environmental assessment.
“We have most of that worked out,” Morrison said. “Along with the environmental assessment, we have to do an archaeological survey. Another thing is taking out trees, we have to do something to offset that. They’re saying since we’ve got so many trees. ff we go between the plant and the (Wister Lake) dam and take out trees for them, then we’ll have to plant wildflowers for pollination.”
PsfA Secretary/Treasurer Ron Pelanconi told the board the PsfA Budget and Finance Committee met April 14 at Mazzio’s Pizza in which those members discussed a proposed rate increase of 10 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The committee will meet once again at 1 p.m. May 27 at the PsfA Water Plant near Wister Lake.
fn his report, Morrison said PsfA is gearing up for its second quarter trihalomethanes (THMs) samples being taken May 17-18, and there was a leak on a 20-inch line Monday near Riverside Autoplex. Morrison told the board he went to the Oklahoma Rural Water Association (ORWA) Conference where he got further information about the lead and copper revisions that will be done on water lines. “f talked to one of the ORWA people about a mapping system,” Morrison said. “By October 2024, we will have to have our system mapped and inventoried for the new lead and copper regulations. We’re looking at different mapping systems.” PsfA sice-Chairman Joe Mode shared with the board some information regarding Biouaesign Representative Steve Patterson, who has been doing some work for PsfA regarding the watershed project. Mode said PsfA has received Patterson’s final invoice for “the sampling” that had been ongoing for the last several years, but Mode went on to say that Patterson and the watershed plan committee has completed their report on the aluminum treatment. Mode also said PsfA has received information about the total maximum daily loads (TMaLs) plan where there were some final questions that needed to be answered where Patterson said that cost would be A750 to do. Mode also said the watershed base plan Patterson has been working on, had a lot more questions asked by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — which Patterson told Mode the price to complete that task will be A3,200. Mode said that the questions would be answered and turned in to the EPA by Patterson. Mode said the next step in the process would be a public forum. “ff anyone has questions, they can come forward (at the public forum),” Mode said. “Once that is completed, then we should receive the final draft. We’re hoping this will be the end of the money trail as far as we’re concerned that will get it to where we’ve been trying to get for the last five years.” The PsfA board approved both the A750 and A3,200 expenditures, which will total A3,950. The board approved paying the April claims.