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  • Front row from left, project manager Kenneth Peters, State Sen. Mary Easley, Councilor Mary Jane Whisnant, Councilor Paula Templeton, Councilor Terry Crawford, Mayor James Jennings, city employee Albert Dorr, city employee Jason Jones; back row, from left, project inspector Jack Freeman, council member Bob Van Brunt, former City Council member Dan Easternling, city employee Levi Cantrell, city employee Dustin Betes. city employee Sam Massey, council member Shane North, State Rep. Wade Russelot, City Council member Larry Abernathy, Wagoner city utilities director Dwayne Elam.

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October 19, 2009

New water line adds jobs in Wagoner

By Cathy Spaulding

WAGONER — A new city water line could help improve water pressure for residents, businesses and other water customers, plus add jobs for the coming year.

Wagoner city officials and Public Works Authority workers joined other area dignitaries to break ground on the $1.2 million water project, funded by grants and loans from the federal stimulus package, or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Wagoner Utilities Director Dwayne Elam said the money will go for up to four miles of new water lines made of PVC pipe. The water lines, which are in 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch widths will replace cast iron lines that are as old as 80 years, he said.

He said the old lines have gotten clogged and corroded.

“We are constantly having breaks on it,” he said.

City crews already are marking where part of the line is to be laid along Cherokee Street, he said, adding that the project should take about a year.

The project is funded through a $960,000 loan through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and a $240,000 grant through the act, Elam said.

Wagoner Mayor James Jennings said the project will add 10 new full-time employees to the city payroll.

“They will be fulltime employees working for at least 12 months,” he said.

Jennings said that $300,000 of the stimulus money will go for the salaries.

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