New aquatics center, museum priorities for funding provided by CIP Extension

An aquatics center that will be operational next summer and repairing leaks that threaten archives at Museum of the Great Plains are the priorities for funding that residents approved by voting last week to extend the Capital Improvements Program.

That proposal — extending the existing CIP’s 2.125 percent sales tax through Dec. 31, 2040 — will provide funding that will cover projects and programs in 13 categories set by a resolution and ordinance City Council members approved when they set the ballot resolution.

Among those categories are structures that are or will be part of Elmer Thomas Park.

The first is the city’s newest recreational amenity: an aquatics center that is to feature a pool, diving boards, lazy river, restrooms and changing areas, concession stand and parking, to be built near the two Playground in the Parks and splash pad. The second is museum repairs to address years of leaks from the roof and windows that have damaged the building and encourage humidity levels that could endanger artifacts. Both projects are ready to go, said City Manager John Ratliff and Mayor Stan Booker.

The aquatics center is the first priority, Ratliff said, adding city staff expects that facility to be operational by the 2025 Fourth of July weekend. Council members had agreed to fund what is estimated as a $19.4 million project from a $40 million loan they approved in early August, repaying the loan with revenues generated by the CIP. Council members said then that funding mechanism was necessary so work can begin as soon as possible. Contractors have said they will need almost a year for construction, meaning work must begin immediately if the facility is to open by early July 2025.

Ratliff said this funding method provides the money upfront, important because the city must have the entire cost of the project in hand before a contract can be let. Otherwise, “we have to wait for the money to come in,” he said.

Because council members want the center ready for use by Summer 2025, city staff plans to bring the item to the council for awarding of a contract at the Sept. 10 meeting. City officials are planning to break ground on the facility in mid-September.

Priority two is Museum of the Great Plains, a $6 million project to stop leaks then repair extensive damage caused by years of leaks from a deteriorating roof and windows. Ratliff said the project is a “very long time” in coming, with damage evident from the leaks themselves and the threat of damage looming because that water increases humidity levels within the building.

“Especially when you are keeping and maintaining historical documents,” Ratliff said of that threat, adding as a history buff himself, he knows the importance of maintaining such materials in ideal conditions. “It’s very important to do that immediately.”

Council members already have discussed the best option for repairs with architectural firm C.H. Guernsey, which allows designs for work so bids can be let. Ratliff expects that project to begin by Fall, with repair work projected to take a year. Museum officials said work should take place without closing the entire museum, but parts of the facility may be inaccessible to the public during repairs.

Priority three is another long-discussed project by city staff and animal lovers: renovation and expansion of the city animal shelter. That aging facility has multiple issues: it has damage, it needs renovations, and it is too small for all the activities that must take place. The $5.5 million included in the CIP Extension will fund work such as upgrades in the kennel area where animals are held and expanded work space for the shelter’s veterinarian, who handles things such as spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations and animal evaluations.

It also will allow creation of a new intake center to keep animals ready for adoption separate from animals new to the facility. City staff said it also will provide more space, allowing more animals to be kept until they can be adopted.

The city already has directed creation of conceptual designs, the first step in a process that will create design plans so the project can be let for bids. That RFP (requests for proposals) process should begin soon, Ratliff said.

Priority four is one requested by Lawton Fire Department: replacing its fire alert system.

That system now “sounds tones” to alert a station its firefighters are being called to an emergency. Each of Lawton’s eight stations has its own tone, activated when calls come from the E-911 communications center. Fire Chief Jared Williams said problems arise when multiple stations are called because each tone must be sounded for 6 seconds, and multiple stations could mean a delay in alerting all stations (the existing system only allows one tone at a time).

Ratliff said the system dates to the 1970s and must be manually sounded. Replacement — estimated at $1.3 million — means a fully-automated system that also provides critical backup. Williams said the system can be installed in six to eight months.

“It will save lives and property,” Ratliff said, adding he expects Lawton Fire Department to seek RFPs quickly.