The funds to connect Adair’s water to Rural District 6 were approved Monday.

Most of the pipe to get the town’s water supply changed from the old treatment plant to the rural water system has been laid.

A Community Development Block Grant for $95,400 was reappropriated more than once as plans have changed over time concerning the town’s water and sewer plants.

“We have saved it one more time,” engineer Dwayne Henderson said. The town has been in danger of losing the funds because the money must be spent within a specific time frame.

The remaining span to tie onto the system is approximately a quarter mile of pipe.

“We have a new CDBG contract,” Henderson said. “The bids came in high at $120,000. The question is, do you want to put $25,000 of your money into the project? You have $95,400 to put toward the contract and the bid is $120,000.”

Water Superintendent Scott Martin said several items could be removed from the contract, including asphalt for driveways and two connections to residences the town can make.

“But we want to get it tied up this time,” Martin said.

The old water system has been taxed to the point of needing new motors to keep it going until the new system can be put into service.

“We popped water lines every day,” Martin said. “We’ve had eight major leaks in the last two weeks.”

As a result, the town had a 1.1 million gallon water loss in July.

“There are three smaller leaks we’ll fix tomorrow,” Martin said. “We sold a lot of water, but that just goes to show you that water  plant was screaming.”

Four new motors have been purchased to keep the plant running.

“He (the contractor) needs to lock his bid in because pipe prices are about to go up,” Henderson said.

Trustees approved the CDBG contract and awarded the bid to Jay Belle Construction, LLC.

The wastewater plant is online and the irrigation gun is in use. One subcontractor has not been paid for $60,000 worth of work, including setting the irrigation pump. The town has paid the general contractor for the work.

“You paid your bills in good faith,” Henderson said. He said this is a unique situation he has not dealt with before and he is trying to get it resolved.

After a two-hour executive session, trustees voted to promote Officer Scott Nelson to police chief.

Earlier in the meeting, Nelson reported the police department wrote 65 tickets in July, investigated two attempted break-ins at Lakeland Auto, impounded a Pit Bull dog and had two juveniles complete 64 hours of community service.

The fire department had 10 runs in July. Fire Chief Craig Cooper reported two firefighters and one truck were sent to Luther with the task force to fight wildfires last weekend.

Nick Moudy, Dallas Wisdom and Wesley Reed were approved as volunteer firefighters on a one-year trial basis.

Trustees approved a $500 donation to the burn camp scheduled at Lake Hudson on Aug. 11.

Trustees discussed five nuisance properties. Town attorney Cherie Meislahn has sent letters to all the owners.

A vacant house at 401 Lee. Ave. has an in-ground swimming pool full of stagnant water and a broken fence. “Last year, we got sent over to get an armadillo out of there,” Martin said.

A property at 202 N.E. 2nd St. has been partially mowed, but Nelson said there is still high grass and a junk pile.

Properties at Main and Cheatham Streets have been cleaned and mowed.

A property at 459 Hampton Rd. has had no improvement.

Meislahn will send another letter to the owners of the Second Street, Hampton Road and Lee Avenue properties advising owners a lien will be taken against the property to pay for cleaning and mowing.

Trustees approved contracting with Court Solutions for paying traffic tickets with credit cards on line. The town will be sent an e-mail verification when the ticket has been paid.

Mayor Steve Hall was approved to sign documentation on behalf of the town with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for highway projects. These documents include moving water and sewer lines, taking a half acre of property from the water plant and approving right-of-ways.