Lawton Water Authority set to buy assets added to Ralph’s Resort lake concession

City Council members will consider buying $300,000 worth of assets from a Lake Ellsworth concession area, as well as discussing projects and funding for a new Capital Improvements Program when they meet in special session today.

The discussion with Steve and Sandra Perry comes as the couple indicates they will not renew their lease to operate the Ralph’s Resort concession when it expires Dec. 31. Operations have been in the Perry family for decades. The original lease with the City of Lawton dates to Dec. 14, 1999, when the city signed an agreement with Perry’s father John. Steve and Sandra were added to the lease as co-lessees in October 2011, and John’s name was removed in January 2015 after his death.

The existing lease contains a provision specifying what will be done with the assets added by the Perrys over the years, which include a store, boat and fishing docks, walkways and a trailer park with 20 spaces. The lease had specified the assets would be transferred to the City of Lawton “for the amount determined by the board of appraisers,” but the Lawton Water Authority voted earlier this week to remove the appraisal requirement and negotiate a price.

Today, the Lawton Water Authority (a function of the City Council) will consider a recommendation to buy those assets for $300,000, the same type of agreement it made when buying assets added by the former School House Slough concessionaire after he ended his lease Dec. 31, 2023.

After confirming the water authority’s action, the council will consider directing city staff to launch a Request for Proposals, a process to help identify those interested in operating Ralph’s Resort. Should an operator be found before Dec. 31, the amended agreement allows the city and the Perrys to end the lease before its termination date.

The action is the fourth decision on lakes concessions in recent months, as city officials focus new attention on Ellsworth and Lawtonka recreation areas. Earlier this week, the water authority set higher lease rates for Lawton Boat Club and Sunken Bridge Yacht Club on Lake Lawtonka, while also deciding it will end the lease with concessionaires at Lake Ellsworth’s Minnow Marina when it expires in June. Last month, the council signed an agreement with a new concessionaire to operate the store and fueling system at School House Slough, amenities that are expected to be operational by mid-month.

In other business, the council is expected to discuss projects that could be included in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) extension proposal to be submitted to voters Aug. 27.

Dubbed PROPEL 2040, the extension will provide additional funding to address new projects and needs for Lawton, ranging from infrastructure upgrades and repairs to deteriorating historic buildings, to security enhancements for police and new programs for youth. Mayor Stan Booker presented the “why” aspect of the extension in late April, and now wants the council to discuss other projects that could be funded and to begin discussing funding levels. City officials have not said how much additional revenue they expect to generate by extending the existing 2.125 percent CIP sales tax through 2040 (it now expires in 2034).

Residents will be asked for their input at community meetings set May 16 and May 20, with the council set to make a final decision on the ballot proposition May 28. By state law, the council must have its ballot proposition to the Comanche County Election Board by June 12 for an Aug. 27 election.