Bartlesville City Council repeals emergency water rates at special meeting

Andy Dossett, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
Updated ·2 min read
After months of being closed due to water restrictions, families finally enjoy a day at Frontier Pool. The city rushed to reopen the pool and rescind emergency rates. The City Council voted to form a committee to make a long-term plan for future water supply issues.
After months of being closed due to water restrictions, families finally enjoy a day at Frontier Pool. The city rushed to reopen the pool and rescind emergency rates. The City Council voted to form a committee to make a long-term plan for future water supply issues.

The Bartlesville City Council unanimously repealed emergency water rates during a special meeting Monday and made a critical first step in securing the city's future water supply. During the meeting, the council appointed 17 members to the newly re-formed Bartlesville Water Resource Committee.

The 17 members are tasked with researching supplemental water sources for immediate water shortages and long-term needs and reviewing the city's current drought plan. The committee will make recommendations to the city council based on its findings.

“We are excited to get this committee reestablished,” said City Manager Mike Bailey.

The committee comprises two council members, a citizen from each ward, a citizen of Dewey, a Washington County Commissioner, a Bartlesville Development Authority representative and a Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce representative.

Additionally, a representative of each of the Federal Legislator's Office, a legislative liaison and the Water Utilities Director will be ex officio positions on the committee.

The council appointed Mayor Dale Copeland, City Council member Billie Roane, City Manager Mike Bailey, George Halkiades for Ward 1, Bill Dausses for Ward 2, Tom Gorman for Ward 3, Quinn Schipper for Ward 4, Harvey Little for Ward 5, Kevin Trease for Dewey, County Commissioner Mike Dunlap for Washington County, David Wood for the Bartlesville Development Authority, Sherri Wilt for the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mack Savala with Sen. James Lankford's office (ex officio), Crystal Campbell with Sen. Markwayne Mullin's office (ex officio), Derrick Sisney with Rep. Josh Brecheen's office (ex officio), state Sen. Julie Daniels, legislative liaison (ex officio) and Terry Lauritsen, Bartlesville's water utilities director (ex officio) to the committee.

Council member Loren Roszel said the city is well represented but felt that there was a lack of representation for smaller communities that rely on Bartlesville for water. He moved to change the citizen of Washington County position to a Washington County commissioner, which was approved.

Quinn Schipper said he agreed to be part of the committee because “I felt like it was something I had an interest in. Mike Bailey provided tons of information and history about what the committee had done in the past before I made the decision.”

"I'm looking forward to seeing the big picture and the long-term water plans, taking into account the future growth of the city and being a part of the solution," he said. "There is a great collection of different perspectives on the committee.”

The repeal retroactively took effect July 17, when water levels reached the critical 70% or stage one of the Water Shortage Ordinance, which has no restrictions or emergency water rates.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville City Council repeals emergency water rates