Lawton City Council to consider contracts for repairs to the water plant and John Denney Playhouse

City Council members will look at proposals today that will allow repairs at the city’s largest water treatment plant and replace the badly damaged roof on a building that has been home to Lawton Community Theatre for decades.

The proposal to award a contract to Ford Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. will allow full replacement of the roof on the John Denney Playhouse, located on the edge of Harmon Park at 1316 NW Bell. The roof, like many in Lawton, was extensively damaged in a ferocious hail storm in June 2023 and the resulting leaks so badly damaged the interior of the building that Lawton Community Theatre had to vacate the building. LCT has moved its offices to Cameron University, while holding its plays at McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

City officials said the roof has been deemed a total loss and needs to be completely replaced, something the contract with Ford Roofing will allow. That replacement cost is estimated at $207,403.41, with funding to come from the City of Lawton’s Arts & Humanities Division’s repair and maintenance fund, with possible reimbursement from insurance and from a FEMA reimbursement program that is expected to focus on multiple City of Lawton structures.

Council members also will consider awarding a $1.966 million contract to Howard Construction Inc., Ardmore, for repairs to a filter underdrain at the water treatment plant in Medicine Park. The plant, which provides the greatest share of treated water to the city, has been operating without filter 4, one of seven filter underdrains that are part of the water treatment process.

City engineers have said the filter must be replaced, and the wall sealed between filters 4 and 5. Howard’s bid was higher than the $1.63 million engineering estimate, and city engineers say they will ask the new contractor to conduct “value engineering,” an evaluation process that will determine if any reductions can be done. Funding will come from a water-related loan the City of Lawton received last year for work it planned on water and sewer systems.

In other business, the council will consider awarding a $420,163 design contract to Jacobs Engineering Group, to craft design plans that will allow the city to replace 15,990 feet of sewer mains across the city. The action is actually an amendment of an existing contract with the long-time consulting engineering firm.

The contract directs Jacobs to prepare preliminary and final designs, as well as prepare construction documents, help with the bidding process, and provide construction support services. The specific project will upgrade sewer mains across the city with a pipe bursting process, as well as replace manholes. The project, being funded with a Clean Water loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, will replace 15,600 feet of 8-inch main and 500 feet of 10-inch main.