The storage tower has been out of commission for nearly three years after an inspection found serious structural damage inside.Henryetta mayor Jennifer Clason said the town has been approved this week for a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
She said she has been working with the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD) and Department of Commerce for the past two weeks to get the grant submitted.
The total project is estimated to cost some $1.3 million. Of that, after the grant money is released, the city will be responsible for $850,000. Another $189,000 is expected to be obtained through the Department of Indian Affairs. Clason pointed out the city's share of the money is already part of a loan package approved form the Bank of Oklahoma. Engineers have already been working on plans for the new water tower. Once the money s released, the process of getting those plans approved by the state and federal government will begin. No date was given when actual construciton would start.
She said Tuesday morning that more grants are being sought. "I will be looking for any grant I can find to help the city with quality of life and overall improvements."