Council negotiating road agreement with Oneok

Public Works Director Mac Erickson is negotiating a one-off payment from Oneok Pipelines that will cover the cost of wear and tear on city roads during construction of the Elk Creek Pipeline this summer. The company is happy to reach an agreement, Erickson said, but the Sundance City Council felt the initial sum was not quite enough to cover those costs.

During discussions with Oneok, Erickson informed the council that an initial figure of $7250 had been suggested. This would cover 50 percent of the cost for dust control on the road leading out of Oneok’s staging area in the industrial zone, as well as 50 percent of the price to re-gravel that road once it becomes necessary to do so.

The figure was based on an estimate of $4000 for dust control on 27th Street, to be handled by the city, and $10,500 for the re-gravelling. The payment would keep the road passable while Oneok is here while making sure the city has the money it needs to fix the road when it wears out.

However, said Council Member Joe Wilson, 27th Street is not the only road in question. Though it was not originally intended that Oneok use Black Buttes Road, he said, “I can see how much traffic goes through there and it’s a lot”.

Mayor Paul Brooks further pointed out that, due to events at other points of the pipeline construction, Sundance currently has double the number of construction crew in town as expected.

Erickson confirmed that Oneok is aiming to be a good neighbor and give the city the necessary money to be used as needed. With this in mind, Brooks asked what the total cost would be for dust control and re-graveling of both 27th Street and Black Buttes.

After hearing Erickson’s estimate of $21,800, the mayor directed him to return to Oneok and let them know the council is interested in sealing the agreement at around the $11,000 level.