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The Marshall County Water Corporation held a meeting to answer the community's questions about a possible restructure. Leslie Mowles • The Madill Record
The Marshall County Water Corporation held a special meeting on Thursday, January 12 to answer questions on the proposal to restructure the corporation as an Oklahoma Rural Water District. The public was given an open question and answer session beforeallowingmembersthat did not vote by proxy to cast their votes.
The MCWC's move from a corporation to a district will make it eligible for additional fundinginthefuturefromthe Oklahoma Water Resources Board, which provides funding to rural water districts. Converting to a water district will also allow them to qualify for low interest rate loans and grants as the county continues to grow and improve the water system.
An attorney for the board stated that it will be different in how the board conducts meetings. This means that if approved, it will be a public entity subject to the Open Records Act and the Open Meetings Act. The attorney also stated that being a water district will mean having a territory. The corporation is requesting the territory be all of Marshall County except for the city limits of any city and the limits of any other water district. The attorney also stated the rates will not change as a result of the conversion.
Commissioner Chris Duroy said Marshall County is being proactive by looking into the possible conversion.
“After speaking with a lot of different counties and commissioners in Oklahoma, most of the time the water corporations or systems had gotten in financial trouble and had to convert to a water district to get this kind of funding to basically sustain what they have. Fortunately, Marshall County Water Corporation has done a fantastic job, they haven’t gotten in trouble, they are just looking to the future and being proactive instead of reactive.”
Duroy went on to say that Commissioners across the state have had to do this once they start growing to keep up financially with the growth. The vote was approved with 912 voters in favor and 128 against. The proposal will now go before the Board of County Commissioners on February 21.