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RESOLUTION R-1617-78: A RESOLUTION OF THE NORMAN UTILITIES AUTHORITY (THE "AUTHORITY") AGREEING TO FILE APPLICATION WITH THE OKLAHOMA WATER RESOURCES BOARD (THE "OWRB") FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM, WITH THE LOAN PROCEEDS BEING FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING STORMWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA; APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO.
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BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB), acting as the agent of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Oklahoma legislature, has administered a Statewide Water Development Revolving Fund loan program (SRF) for many years. These programs provide financial assistance for municipalities to make infrastructural improvements to their water and water reclamation (formerly sewer or wastewater) systems to comply with federal and state drinking water and pollution control standards. The Norman Utilities Authority (NUA) has participated on several occasions in the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's Statewide Revolving Fund loan program and has benefitted from the lower interest rates and favorable terms in the program.
DISCUSSION: On January 24, 2017, the City Council and Norman Utilities Authority (NUA) approved a Drinking Water Statewide Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (Resolutions 1617-76 and 1617-77) to finance improvements to the Vernon Campbell Water Treatment Facility. In discussions leading up to that loan, the NUA/Council was also informed of a pending OWRB program to provide grant funding, in the form of an approximately $305,000 Clean Water SRF Loan with "principal forgiveness" (in other words, a loan that doesn't have to be repaid) to provide storm drainage and stream bank improvements. With matching funds (estimated to be $3,977,738) from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), the Norman Water Reclamation ...
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