ODOT awards $75M, 2-year contract to replace US-62 bridge over Arkansas River at Muskogee

Heads-up, Muskogee and Fort Gibson: travel over the Arkansas River will be a bit more crowded over the next couple years.

I'm excerpting a longer press release to focus in on the local impacts from this week's Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting (read the full press release here):

US-62 bridges over the Arkansas River in Muskogee

ODOT launches work zone safety campaign; nearly $130 million in contracts awarded

Highlights of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s Monday, April 4, meeting include unveiling of a spring work zone safety awareness campaign by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, an update on federal transportation funding following recent congressional action and consideration of programming items for future traffic safety and highway signage projects. Contracts were awarded for major projects on US-62 in Muskogee County, US-259 in McCurtain County and US-69 in Atoka and Bryan counties.  

[...]

Commissioners awarded contracts for several major highway improvements in Eastern Oklahoma, including a nearly $75 million project to reconstruct the US-62 bridges over the Arkansas River in Muskogee. The twin bridges span the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, also known as Marine Highway M-40, which supports waterborne freight traffic moving in and out of Oklahoma ports. Construction of the replacement structures will include pier protections around bridge support members in the river. 

Landfill vouchers available for Muskogee County flood debris removal

Muskogee County Commissioner Ken Doke posted yesterday that the County has negotiated discounts with the Muskogee County Landfill for those affected by the recent flooding:



Multiple relief organizations are working in Muskogee County helping flood victims with mudouts, demolition and debris removal. Here is some information passed along by Clean Pro, a cleaning and water damage restoration company in Muskogee:

click here for full size

Clean Pro gives advice to flood victims, information on relief groups

Clean Pro, our Muskogee-based family carpet cleaning and water damage restoration company, posted some important information about flood recovery and disaster relief that is useful for those impacted by flood damage at their residence or business. If you know of anybody who was personally affected and sustained damage as a result of the recent (and ongoing) flooding, please share this post with them.

Click "See More" to view the full post.



In other Clean Pro news, it's time for the Muskogee Daily Phoenix ‘Best of Muskogee Reader’s Choice’ award nominations. We're already heard from customers who have nominated Clean Pro once again for 'Best Carpet Cleaner', an award we won in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Click here to learn how you can join in on the action and submit nominations in dozens of categories for the full awards voting (top five advance).

Click here to learn how to submit nominations for the 'Best in Muskogee' contest

Clean Pro won 'Best Carpet Cleaner' in 2015, 2016, and 2017

End in sight? Arkansas River appears to have crested at Muskogee

As historic flooding continues to affect northeastern and east-central Oklahoma, the Army Corps of Engineers appears to be cautiously optimistic about the reduction in flooding in the Arkansas River at Muskogee.

From the Tulsa World:

“Right now, on our current path, we expect the river to be back within its banks at Muskogee around June 8, barring any additional significant weather,” [Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Preston Chasteen] said.

Releases from Keystone Lake are being bumped up from 250,000 cubic feet per second to 275,000 cfs by Monday morning. That will result in slightly higher flood levels in the Tulsa area. However, for residents in Muskogee and further south, discharge from the Grand River at Fort Gibson Lake has reduced from 211,000 cfs at midnight last night to 177,000 cfs at 6pm Sunday, which will result in an almost even swap with the increase from Keystone.

According to Muskogee County Commissioner Ken Doke, "the Corps intends to stagger the flows at other dams to keep this a net-neutral flow for our area [Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Braggs, Webbers Falls]."

Information from the Corps of Engineers appears to show that the Arkansas River crested, at least temporarily, at 46.39' at 9:00am this morning, and has fallen slightly to 46.21' as of 7pm. That is the same level the river was at at midnight. This is the first stretch of falling water levels since this flooding event began.

While forecasts are calling for more storms on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the potential for areas of significant rainfall, there is no rain in the forecast for Memorial Day, which will allow water levels to begin falling (even if its slowly) to hopefully compensate for any additional precipitation on Tuesday/Wednesday.

In other words, it's beginning to look like the end is in sight for flood-beleaguered communities up and down the Arkansas River!

The amount of rainfall that has occurred in the Arkansas River watershed is staggering, as shown in the above map from Oklahoma Mesonet. Everything that fell in area 'A' runs through the Three Forks at Muskogee, the confluence of the Arkansas, Verdigris, and Grand rivers.

It will still take plenty of time for inundated areas to become accessible for residents, restoration professionals, and volunteers. Due to the extreme contamination found in floodwaters, much of what has been affected by water damage in homes and businesses will need to be disposed of.

It is vitally important for health and safety that proper steps are taken when dealing with the aftermath of a house flooded by an incident such as this. Make sure that you work with restoration companies that have the proper training, equipment, and insurance to handle this type of work.

It is advisable to go ahead and call a water damage restoration company now in order to get on their list of jobs. Waiting until the waters have fully receded may put you behind multiple other customers.

Clean Pro, the company my family runs, has been serving customers in the Muskogee area since 1987. Water damage restoration is one of the services we provide, and we are IICRC-Certified in Water Damage Restoration. You can reach us by calling 918-686-0222, emailing CleanProMuskogee@gmail.com, visiting our website, or messaging us on Facebook.

We have already had customers call to line us up for work, which is going to be the case for all of the local restoration companies. There will be plenty of work to go around, and I have already heard of out-of-area companies that plan to head to our area to work. Whoever you end up using, make sure that they are properly trained, insured, and reputable.

To reiterate some information that I've posted previously, for official road highway closures, visit OKRoads.org. This does not cover county or city streets. Some local road closures can be found on the official Facebook pages of the City of Muskogee Emergency Management and the Muskogee County Emergency Management. You can also check out this video from Clean Pro posted yesterday, showing the flooding on the north and east side of Muskogee and giving out information for area flood donation dropoffs, updates from the City and County, and tips on what to do about damage at your home or business.

Current and recent river levels can be accessed here, and forecasts for river levels can be viewed here.

City of Muskogee, Corps of Engineers release new inundation map for Muskogee area

From the City of Muskogee:

** FLOODING ALONG ARKANSAS RIVER ** UPDATED 5/24/19 1230

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers released a new inundation map for Muskogee to city officials this morning. This map shows projected areas where floodwaters may reach, which is more extensive than originally anticipated. Please consult the map for details.  Be advised that this map does not show the amount of water in any given area, or the projected depth. Residents are urged to consider roadways and other points of entry and exit to their property before traveling. These points may be in lower lying areas than residential structures. 

This map is based upon engineering projections, not guarantees. It is intended to be a planning tool for Emergency Management.

This new information from the United States Army Corps of Engineers indicate City services may be impacted as early as noon tomorrow.

The City’s highest priority is keeping the water treatment plant functional.  The National Guard has worked with city staff throughout the night adding berms at the water treatment plant in an effort to hold back the floodwaters. The water plant, at the timing of this release, is fully functional. However, as waters continue to rise and new projects are made, there is a possibility that the water plant may temporarily be unable to produce water. If this happens, it may occur as early as noon on Saturday. 

If the water plant suspends operations, Emergency Management officials will order a mandatory water rationing. This will ensure that the City’s reserve supply of water will last for three days beyond Saturday. Regardless, there is no possibility of water contamination.

Residents are urged to have a minimum additional three-day reserve supply of water.

Fire response would then be limited to structures with human lives in danger.

River water has reached the Muskogee Pollution Control plant and it is out of service at this time.  We do not anticipate this to impact citizens and we are in compliance with ODEQ regulations at this time.

We will post frequent updates on the City of Muskogee Emergency Management Facebook Page.

Flood Inundation Map

Muskogee Arkansas River Flood: updated map and road situation

As severe flooding continues along almost the entire length of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, the effects are widening in communities along the waterway. Here in the Muskogee area, the flooding is approaching an all-time high, with county officials saying that the latest forecasts calling for a crest near 45' (an elevation of approximately 516' above sea level).

As of this writing, the Arkansas River gage at Muskogee has the river at 43'. The map below gives a rough estimate of what areas could be affected by the flooding if it crests between 45' and the all-time record of 48'. It's an imprecise graphic, since USGS contour lines are only every ten or twenty feet (depending on the area), so some of the edges might be above the flood level (but the shading should cover just about everything that could be affected). Judging from drone/helicopter video I've seen of the area, this is pretty close to what the current situation is.

Some of the roads on this map are not underwater due to elevated roadways; i.e. the turnpike, OK-165, Peak Boulevard, South Country Club (as of this afternoon) and South York St (as of this afternoon).

OK-10 is closed at Manard Bayou as well as where it approaches US-62. US-62 is underwater from just east of the river bridge to several hundred yards east of the Cherokee Casino. OK-10 is underwater from essentially the Arkansas River to north of the Muskogee Turnpike.

For official road highway closures, visit OKRoads.org. This does not cover county or city streets. Some local road closures can be found on the official Facebook pages of the City of Muskogee Emergency Management and the Muskogee County Emergency Management. I'll post two alternate routes from Muskogee to Fort Gibson below the potential-flooding map.

You can view this map in full at this link, where you can zoom in close enough to see most streets (not all are labeled).

Again, you can view this map in larger format at this link.

Official highway closures can be viewed at OKRoads.org.

TWO ALTERNATE ROUTES FROM MUSKOGEE TO FORT GIBSON:

• Head north from Muskogee to Wagoner via the Turnpike or US-69, then east on OK-51 from Wagoner to Hulbert, then south on 4 Mile Road from Hulbert to US-62, then west on US-62 to Fort Gibson (Google Maps directions). Distance from downtown Muskogee, 43.7 miles.
• Head north from Muskogee toward Wagoner via US-69, take E 760 Rd (just past the RV park on Hwy 69, at the curve south of Wagoner) east approximately 1.5 miles to OK-16, head south to E 100th St N/Gray Oaks Rd, go east approximately 3 miles to N 49th St E, head south 2 miles to OK-251, head east to the Fort Gibson Lake Dam, then continue east on OK-80/W 790 Rd until you reach 4 Mile Rd, then south to US-62, west from there to Fort Gibson (Google Maps directions). Distance from downtown Muskogee, 41.4 miles.

UPDATE: here are some road closures from the Muskogee County Commissioners, list was last updated Wednesday evening (click the image to view larger):

          ~~          ~~          ~~          ~~          ~~          ~~          

For those who aren't regular readers of MuskogeePolitico.com, I generally cover state and local politics and current events. You can follow my blog on Facebook at this link, and on Twitter at @JamisonFaught.

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Muskogee Arkansas River Flood: Areas to Watch

5/24/19 (Friday AM) UPDATE: click here to see the newest map and information on alternate routes between Muskogee and Fort Gibson.

{Updates can be viewed toward the bottom. Combined Muskogee/Fort Gibson/Braggs map at this link, or at the bottom of the post}

With all of the rain eastern and northern Oklahoma has received in the past week, the Muskogee area is bracing for major flood stage on the Arkansas River due to inflow from precipitation and water release from area lakes.

The Arkansas River at Muskogee is forecast to crest at 38' (10' above flood stage) on Wednesday, up from 27' yesterday. This would likely place the flood among the top five highest crests recorded at this location.

The record flood reading was 48.2' on May 21st, 1943 (before Ft. Gibson Dam was completed), and the second-highest on record was 39.6' on October 6th, 1986.

Areas below an elevation of 510' are likely to be flooded, if the crests as forecast. The map below gives a rough idea of the areas that are below 510'. Dark blue is the normal water levels, light blue covers the area subject to river flooding. Evacuations are currently underway in some of these areas.

Click here to view the Muskogee/west Fort Gibson map larger.

I hope to get more on the Fort Gibson side done as well, but the USGS maps for that area I can find all use contours of 20' instead of 10' as on the Muskogee side of the river (I assume it's because the Fort Gibson side has more topographical variance). Map has been added in below updates

Again, click here to view the Muskogee/west Fort Gibson map larger.

UPDATE 1: here is more of the Fort Gibson and Braggs vicinity. This one is less precise than the Muskogee one as it is based off a different map, but if you zoom in you can identify the 500' mark (this USGS map has 20' contour lines instead of 10').

Click here to view the south Fort Gibson/Braggs map in full size.

Again, click here to view the south Fort Gibson/Braggs map larger.

UPDATE 2: I've combined both maps into one image (view in full size at this link):

Again, view the combined map in full size here.

Amid NFL protests, Fort Gibson football team takes the field in a different way

In the midst of the ongoing controversy over the National Anthem at football games, with college and even high-school players now joining the new "fad" of protesting, the Fort Gibson (OK) High football team took a different approach at their home game against Poteau last night:


Thanks to Payton Fore Photography for the photo.

Video:

'A Day in the Life of a Government Regulated Citizen'

My FCC regulated alarm clock goes off and I reluctantly roll off of my FTC and state gov't regulated mattress. I stumble to the bathroom and turn on the DOE regulated showerhead which is what really wakes me up. In the shower, I wash my hair with my FDA regulated shampoo which conveniently has a "Drug Facts" label on the back so I know what I am putting on my head. 

After the shower I get dressed and pickup my FCC regulated cellphone and head to my DOT regulated truck. On the way to work I stop and fill the truck up with DOE regulated gasoline, which I hope doesn't contain ethanol as I really like my truck.

For the rest of A Day in the Life of a Government Regulated Citizen, written by Fort Gibson resident Steven Hill, click here.

Rep. Faught Hosts Final State Question Forum

Rep. Faught Hosts Final State Question Forum

Area residents will have one final opportunity to attend a public meeting to discuss the eleven State Questions on the upcoming ballot.  The Thursday evening gathering will be the last in a series of forums hosted by Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee).  Faught has met with church and civic groups, as well as held open meetings in area communities including Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Braggs, Tahlequah and Eufaula.

“I am encouraged and pleased that well over 300 citizens have taken advantage of these informal discussions.  They are making sure they are informed before voting on these important issues”, said Faught.

The final State Question Forum will be held this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office (24 E. Shawnee – east of K Mart).  There will be no charge to attend and everyone is invited.  Informational packets will be available.

For more information, contact Rep. George Faught at (918) 682-8383 or email george.faught@okhouse.gov.

Rep. Faught Holding State Questions Forum in Fort Gibson Tonight

State Representative George Faught will be holding a State Question informational meeting tonight at the Fort Gibson public library at 6:30 p.m.

Faught will explain the 11 questions on the upcoming November ballot. Everyone is invited to come and participate in an informal discussion of these State Questions. Informational packets will be available to the public.

“With 11 state questions on the ballot it could easily become overwhelming for the voter to make a decision. This forum will allow those who participate to be more familiar and help determine how they might like to vote on these measures,”  Faught said.

The Q.B. Boydston Library is located at 201 E. South Ave. in Fort Gibson.  Please mark your calendars for this event.   For more information contact Rep. George Faught at (918) 682-8383, or at george.faught@okhouse.gov.

Area School Board Filings

The filing period for area school board races ended yesterday. Multiple candidates filed in several districts across the area.

Muskogee: Larry Dan Leatherman and Pamela Isaacs (incumbent Danny Shiew did not file).
Hilldale: Terri Breedlove (incumbent) and Vernon Antonioni.
Fort Gibson: Darren Kilpatrick (incumbent) drew no opposition.
Okay: Jon Oxtoby and David Rodden.
Braggs: Kyle Jones (incumbent) and Audra Lynn Hunt.
Norwood: Rickey Moore (incumbent) and Susan Kirk.
Hulbert: Kent Barnes (incumbent) Christopher Sallee and Linda Baker.
Webbers Falls: David Jarrard and Robert Vinson.
Wagoner: Vernon Sullivan (incumbent) and Mark Collins.
Tahlequah: Hamid Vahdatipour and Duel Smith.

The school board elections will be held on February 9th, 2010. Any runoff elections will be held on April 6th, 2010.

Veterans Day 2009

Today is a day set aside to remember those who have served our nation in the military to protect our freedoms. Without their sacrifice, America would not the nation it is today. Thank you, veterans.

America; the land of the free, because of the brave.

(special thanks to Keith Whitfield on Flickr for these pictures from the Fort Gibson National Cemetery)

State Rep. Faught Draws 2010 Opponent

State Rep. George Faught (R, Muskogee) appears to have drawn a Democratic opponent for the upcoming 2010 election.

Fort Gibson Democrat Brad Clinkenbeard has filed a Statement of Organization (SO-1) with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, officially forming his campaign committee.

Faught was first elected in 2006, shocking state Democrat and Republican leaders, and became the only Republican in state history to win the House District 14 seat. He was subsequently reelected in 2008 with 56% of the vote, in a district with only about 25% registered Republicans.

Pro-Growth Cities

In tough economic times like today, it is important that cities encourage continued business growth. It can be difficult to achieve this, but one way is to avoid passing new ordinances that make it harder for businesses to expand.

I live in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The recession took a while to hit our area, but the inevitable has occurred. As is the case across the nation, growth has slowed, and jobs have been lost. One would think that the city leaders would be doing everything they could to reverse that trend, and they are to a degree, but you would be surprised at some of the things city leaders can overlook.

For example, in January of this year, the city council passed an ordinance effectively banning metal buildings from being built, unless the metal facade was covered in brick or some other material (or unless the structure is built in areas zoned agricultural, industrial, or for mobile homes).

Most metal buildings are constructed by businesses for one simple reason: they are relatively cheap to build. A metal building is significantly lower in cost and faster in build time than conventional construction.

One of the main reasons for this is that metal buildings are not very pretty. What is forgotten is that today's metal structures can be accessorized with various forms of facades or wainscots (which should be left up to the owner, not forced on them by government). Muskogee's leaders have, in recent years, been a little obsessed with making the town look nice, to the detriment of existing business. Another example of this was the portable sign ban ordinance that was struck down by the courts a few years back. And for another instance, see my post from June, when a rezoning request from a small businessman was denied.

In the midst of economic turmoil not seen in decades, municipal leaders in my town are more concerned about how the city looks than about economic growth. A town can look as nice as possible, but still be dead economically.

The council recently pushed for, and the voters passed, a sales tax increase (which mainly dealt with infrastructure improvements, with a bit of "pork", if you will). As a result, a businessman friend of mine now has his orders shipped to his property in the country, which saves him a lot of money since it is located outside the city limits.

Just a few miles to the east, the small town of Fort Gibson takes a different perspective. Fort Gibson does not charge some construction-related fees that most cities do. The town has had substantial growth for several years, which might not be a total coincidence.

Cities would do well to enact pro-growth measures, and eliminate hurdles to growing business in their town, especially when dealing with small business. In a time of recession, this is not an option - it's a must.


Cross-posted at Cities of Vision - a think tank for cities.