Lawton residents suggest new projects for CIP extension proposal

City of Lawton officials have a new project to consider for their Capital Improvements Program: ceiling work and a fire suppression system for Lawton Public Library.

The proposal came Thursday at a public meeting held to explain what city officials are calling PROPEL 2040, a plan to extend the existing Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and its 2.125 percent sales tax through 2040, then use the additional revenue that will be generated for new projects or to enhance existing projects. One of those existing projects also drew strong support Thursday: an indoor youth sports complex in need of more funding. Another resident offered an expanded idea for an economic development category that could help refill vacant tracts in parts of town.

Susan Kremmer, a member of the Lawton Public Library Board of Directors, said the library wants the city to consider a project they have estimated at $2.3 million, one to replace the ceiling in the 50-year-old building, update lighting and install a fire suppression system.

“There is no fire protection in the Lawton Public Library,” Kremmer said about sprinklers that are required in today’s structures to suppress fires, but equipment that wasn’t common when the library was built.

Mayor Stan Booker was interested in the proposal, directing City Manager John Ratliff to obtain firm cost estimates for the work so it can be discussed by the City Council.

Craig Foster drew cheers from youth in the audience when he urged support for the CIP Extension so it can help fund an indoor youth sports complex.

“This is a great opportunity for us to grow,” Foster said, adding that complex is the reason he plans to vote “yes” on the extension proposal.

Brian Henry, who chairs the Lawton Youth Sports Trust Authority, said the idea behind the sports complex is supporting youth in sports while also encouraging young families to make a choice to live in Lawton. Henry was one of three community leaders who originally brought the idea to city officials. He said while the existing CIP contains a line item of support for the complex (up to $8 million is designated, a decision made when the estimated construction cost was $13 million), a lot of things have happened to increase the cost of a complex now estimated at $31 million. City officials have discussed designating more funding for the complex, and the youth sports authority is completing negotiations for the tract on East Gore Boulevard at Southeast 45th Street where it will be housed.

Henry said the entity hired to handle the city’s youth and adult sports and their facilities already has increased youth participation by 59 percent since 2022, and that increase is putting a strain on Eastern Sports Management’s ability to use Lawton Public Schools sites for team play.

Henry also said supporters have gathered $3.5 million for the facility, but say more is needed to meet the new construction goal. Designated funding would mean the project could move forward.

“A few changes in this, we could break ground this year,” he said.

Booker said the extension proposal program also will designate a little more money for sidewalk construction, work already under way via funding in the existing CIP, matched with funds designated from tax revenue generated by medical marijuana sales. But, Deborah Jones said the city should increase its sidewalk spending, explaining the city’s dedicated program for adding sidewalks is the most popular program City Hall has adopted in years.

“People no longer are using wheelchairs in the traffic lanes of Cache Road,” Jones said, adding sidewalks address Americans With Disabilities Act concerns while also adding to Lawton’s quality of life.

Jones had a suggestion for another project already proposed for the CIP extension: a $25 million revolving loan fund for redevelopment. The idea is to designate money to developers who present concrete plans for building new types of housing in areas where there are numerous empty lots. The funds designated for one developer would be repaid by the increased value of the land when new structures are built (a Tax Increment Financing District), providing money for more development.

Jones outlined the idea for a land bank, properties where owners can’t pay the cost of cleaning or razing their properties would be held. Jones said the idea is to give that land to developers who would pledge to “build houses for working people,” smaller, less expensive homes that also would fill in city neighborhoods that are vacant. Booker said he wanted more details on the proposal.