As Tulsa’s city council worked on finalizing ordinances dealing with the proposed Vision funding package this week, Councilor Anna America expressed concerns about a lack of details in the ordinance dealing with low-water dams.
"I just want there to be clarity before we vote on this, and I don't think there is at this point that makes really, really clear somewhere in writing that there is an endowment, that this is what it is and that these other partners specifically have to include either a set percent or a set dollar amount minimum for us to say that we're moving forward," America said.
Councilor G.T. Bynum said there’s still some uncertainty surrounding the low-water dams.
"Right now, there are three potential funding partners on that project," Bynum said. "Two of them will have their election on the same day, and if either of those fail, then the whole thing is moot anyway."
The ordinance also mentioned potential funding partners other than Jenks and the Creek Nation. Bynum said there’s a possibility another funding partner could join.
"I don't pretend to have somebody hiding behind a curtain right now that's waiting in the wings to do that, but if they occur, I don't want to rule them out through this language," Bynum said.
The ordinance says if all partners can’t reach an agreement on the dam projects before the end of the year, Tulsa will reallocate the $64 million in the package for dams, with $18 million going to a Zink Lake operating endowment.
