I attended a lunch-and-learn this week with the director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and several from the department’s General Counsel’s Office. We discussed the importance of lake, recreational and industrial access programs, which are important building blocks for overall economic development. The new investment and jobs these projects bring is crucial to our rural areas.
I’m pleased that through the statebudget,theOklahomaDepartment of Transportation will receive $15 million to provide new grants for these programs. This is tied to legislation I’m running this year, House Bill 3882, which would create the revolving fund to be used by ODOT to provide the grants.
I was able to share with those present at the lunch some specifics of a project in our area that has benefitted from these grants: the West Buncombe Creak Road Lake Access Grant Program in Marshall County.
The county requested and received $400,000 through ODOT, and it put up about $130,000 for the project. This cost-sharing is important as it allows counties and cities the ability to complete projects that are beyond their ability to fully fund. There was no way the county, in this instance, was going to be able to come up with half a million dollars to reconstruct this road, but they could at least have their own stake in the end product.
This project is tied from State Highway 377 to a Lake Texoma recreational area. It’s just up the street from the new MegaStar Casino in Kingston and near where a new bridge was recently completed. The area is experiencing a significant increase in traffic, and this project was necessary.
As some have pointed out, we can’t recruit new industry to rural areas unless we have stable infrastructure in place.
Also this past week, I had several pages serve in my Capitol office. Addyson Burris is a senior at Lone Grove High School. She’s the daughter of Brian and Kelly Burris. She is ranked fourth out of 94 in her graduating class and has a 3.88 grand point average. She’s a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. She’s president of the Lone Grove FFA and attended theWashingtonLeadershipConference. She’s also involved in Student Council and Key Club. She plans to attend Oklahoma State University tomajorinagriculturalcommunications with the goal of becoming an entrepreneur. She said she aspires to live a life focused on living for and serving Jesus.
Izabella Fernandez is a junior at Marietta High School. She’s the daughter of Alonso Fernandez and Judy Sanchez-Fernandez. She also is a member of the National Honor Society. She has a grade point average of 4.0 and is on the Student Advisory Panel. She plays basketball, runs track and is in cheer. She’s a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, theNationalBetaClubandStudent Council. She plans to go to college to either become a lawyer, radiologist or a physical therapist.
It’s always great to have pages to get to teach this next generation about the value of state government and the legislative process.
Remember, if I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out: (405) 557-7383 or Josh. Cantrell@OKHouse.gov.
Josh Cantrell serves District 49 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Love County and parts of Carter and Marshall counties.