Broken Arrow Municipal Authority Meeting - November 17, 2025

The Broken Arrow Municipal Authority (BAMA) held its meeting on November 17, 2025, to address routine consent agenda items, present standard utility signage, and approve key funding agreements. The Board of Trustees reviewed the rescission of an HVAC purchase due to contract errors, discussed a new public-facing construction sign to clarify funding sources, and authorized a matching grant commitment agreement with the City of Tulsa for the Hakey Creek Biosolids project. Additionally, the board approved a design amendment for the Hakey Creek Lift Station Phase IV improvements with Black & Veatch Corporation.

Consent Calendar

• Approval and authorization to rescind the purchase/installation of HVAC equipment: Item 5E was discussed due to a lack of prior examples. General Manager Ryan explained that an error was discovered in a procurement contract established through a Sourcewell cooperative agreement. After reviewing the agreement before finalizing the purchase order, mistakes were identified. BAMA regretted the error but determined that rescinding the purchase was necessary to ensure the correct procedure was followed. The motion to approve the consent agenda, including this rescission, passed after the motion was made to remove item 5E was denied.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No formal public comments or testimony were recorded during this meeting segment.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of the new Broken Arrow Municipal Authority Construction Sign:

  • Charlie Bright, Director of Engineering Construction, proposed a standard sign for utility projects to address citizen misconceptions regarding funding sources. Bright noted that while bond-funded projects have signs, loan-funded projects (which make up a significant portion of capital projects) currently lack consistent signage, leading to confusion where citizens may believe projects are grant-funded rather than paid for by utility rates.
  • Speaker Position (Vice Mayor/Trustee): Expressed support for the sign, citing citizen engagement opportunities. The speaker noted that residents have confused utility bills with simple usage fees, failing to understand that rates fund major capital projects (e.g., the $64 million water plant) through the debt service model. The speaker argued that informing the public transforms them into advocates for the utility's future upgrades.
  • Action Taken: Charlie Bright clarified that this is a presentation of a standard drawing for inclusion in construction standards documents, not a formal council action requiring future approvals for tweaks. The board accepted the presentation format.

• Amendment to matching grant funding commitment agreement with City of Tulsa:

  • Charlie Bright presented a unique four-way contract (BAMA, City of Tulsa, RMUA, Tulsa Municipal Utility Authority) regarding the Hakey Creek Biosolids composting project. The USDA required a guaranteed commitment of matching funds in a single account, which the parties wished to avoid to preserve interest earnings.
  • Proposal: The USDA agreed to accept a contractual agreement demonstrating separate commitments of matching funds (approximately $19.2 million per party) rather than a consolidated account.
  • Speaker Position (Charlie Bright/Staff): Stated that BAMA is prepared to commit its allocated $19.2 million from its loan program to the project to facilitate the City of Tulsa's grant acquisition. The staff recommended approval of the contract.

• Amendment 2 to agreement for professional engineering services with Black & Veatch Corporation:

  • Emily Rowland, Environmental Division Manager, presented the amendment for the Hakey Creek Lift Station Phase IV improvements. The current station (capacity ~22 MGD) serves as a bottleneck and is located in a floodway, causing access and flooding issues.
  • Alternatives Evaluated:
    1. Supplemental Station on existing site: Building a second 20 MGD station. Recommended as the most cost-effective option, though the site is tight.
    2. New site relocation: Moving out of the floodway. Ruled out as cost-prohibitive (double or triple the cost of the existing site).
    3. Flow equalization basin: Ruled out due to cost and operational complexity involving dual interceptors at different levels.
  • Recommendation: Proceed with the supplemental lift station on the existing site. The amendment covers conceptual design through 60% design ($750,485 BAMA portion) and includes funds to purchase upstream property for future potential relocation.
  • Speaker Position (Trustees): One trustee inquired about cost-splitting (confirmed as split with Tulsa) and whether internal teams or contractors would perform the work (confirmed contractors for construction, design phase ongoing).
  • Action Taken: Motion to approve the amendment (Item 25-1582) was made, seconded, and passed.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Passed: Approval of the consent agenda, including the rescission of the HVAC purchase order (Item 5E).
• Motion Passed: Approval of the matching grant funding commitment agreement amendment with the City of Tulsa for the Hakey Creek Biosolids project.
• Motion Passed: Approval of Amendment 2 to the engineering services agreement with Black & Veatch for the Hakey Creek Lift Station Phase IV (Item 25-1582).
• Next Steps: The new construction sign will be added to standard construction documents. Design work for the lift station will proceed to 60%, with a potential future amendment for final design expected next spring or fall.
• Administrative Note: The governing body members confirmed upcoming travel to the National League of Cities conference; no executive session was held.
• Administrative Note: The meeting concluded with the calling of the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority to order.