Tulsa city council concerns over water prices

The Tulsa City Council has postponed its vote on a controversial bond issue that would among other projects build a new water supply line to Owasso. <br/><br/>There was heated debate at Thursday night's

Thursday, September 23rd 2004, 10:15 am

By: News On 6

The Tulsa City Council has postponed its vote on a controversial bond issue that would among other projects build a new water supply line to Owasso.

There was heated debate at Thursday night's council meeting. Councilors decided to wait two weeks to decide on an $18-million bond package.

Utility officials want Tulsa to become a regional water source. That means we'd see more of our supply to outlying communities.

Owasso paid nearly $2-million for water last year. Some believe the city should charge more for its water and not get locked into a cheap rate. But Owasso's city manager Rodney Ray says not building the line will affect development in that community for years to come. â€œThis is not about finding a way to tax bedroom communities it's about finding a way to work together hand in hand to go down the road and develop a true strategic alliance that's gonna develop this community."

Tulsa city councilor Chris Medlock: "You have never heard a public statement out of me or any of the councilors that have ever said we wanted to stop selling water to Owasso. The question is who pays for the feeder line and whose dollars are used for it."

Initially the supply line was to be part of the North Tulsa annexation. But now that that's been voted down some say Tulsa shouldn't fund the line.