A preliminary estimate says those repairs are going to run $1.299 million and require a $3 per month increase in Henryetta utility bills.
City council members made that decision at the October meeting but did not set a date for the rate increase to go into effect.
"A rate increase is needed to get this done," said council member Jana Duggan."Utility rates need to go up so much each year and not a big jump. Your cell phone bill goes up and you don't hear anything about it."
Mayor Jennifer Clason told the group that, "our infrastructure is deteriorating."
The decision came after a presentation from Rick Smith with Municipal Finance Services who told the group that current low interest rates make this a good time to look at these projects.
He called those interest rates, "at the lowest level in history."
During the dame presentation, Bill Myers from Myers Engineering presented a "wish list" of eight projects the city could follow to replace and rehabilitate infrastructure.
That included work on a lift station on Fourth Street, refurbish the water storage tank on the hill north of town, improving the sludge drying beds, water line to Jim Hall Lake, sewer line to property on the west side of town, wastewater plant improvements and replacing a water line on West Barclay.
To accomplish all that work at one time would run about $4.860 million.
Myers asked the council to prioritize that list and accomplish the work over several years.
"If we are going to get a loan, why not get the infrastructure and critical needs done once then do some every couple of years," Clason said. "Our infrastructure is old and must be addressed."
Smith said the projected rate for the work would be around three percent but could be less.
Myers recommended replacing the water tank east of town with a pre-stressed concrete structure. He cautioned against retrofitting it or doing any refurbishment.
City manager Ted Graham told the council construction of a sewer line into the property adjacent to Dewey Bartlett has some problems. "We don't know what capacity and size is needed." He said there has been some interest shown in that property and the city recently missed getting a "fairly large motel because sewer is not there."
Both Smith and Myers cautioned against waiting much longer to do the work. "It doesn't take long for interest rates to go up," Myers said.
The council will hold a special meeting Nov. 10 to discuss rate increases and the projects.
