Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Blanchard Municipal Improvement Authority (Authority) received approval for a $9,200,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Authority owns and operates the water storage and distribution system for their water customers and a sanitary sewer collection, treatment, and disposal system for sewer customers. The Authority purchases water from the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust.  Blanchard is facing reasonable growth that requires upgrades to their infrastructure. The loan proceeds will be utilized to extend water and sewer lines throughout the system, upgrade a booster pump station, and construct a water storage tank. 

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the Authority’s  customers will save an estimated $2,353,200 over the life of the 30-year loan compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the revenues of the Authority’s  water, sewer and sanitation systems, a 1 cent sales tax, and a 1 cent use tax. Local officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included Michael Scalf, Mayor, Robert Floyd, City Manager and David Ofsthun, Director of Finance. Mr. Scalf stated, “We are very grateful  and looking forward to these infrastructure improvements.”