LONE WOLF -- State Sen. Robert Kerr and state Rep. Ryan McMullen presented a Rural Economic Action Program (REAP) check for $150,000 to the Quartz Mountain Regional Water Authority during the Oklahoma Water Resources Board monthly board meeting held Aug. 9 at the Lodge. The award was issued by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as part of the REAP program created by the 1996 Legislature. The program targets water and wastewater improvements for Oklahoma's small communities, those often excluded from traditional funding programs.

According to Joe Freeman, chief of the Financial Assistance Division which administers the REAP program, the Authority will add a third 350 gallon per minute reverse osmosis unit to the water treatment plant, made necessary by increasing population in the area, along with a raw water pump, a high service booster, a standby generator, and all related necessary construction and appurtenances.

The Quartz Mountain Regional Water Authority provides water wholesale to Martha, Lone Wolf, Granite, the Oklahoma State Reformatory, Quartz Mountain State Park, North Fork Cabin Water Association; Hester Rural Water Association and Kiowa County Rural Water District No. 1. The Quartz Mountain water treatment plant was completed three years ago. Larry Hahn, president of the Authority, said the total project cost is $1,054,750, with funding provided by a $503,400 USDA Rural Development Grant, a $151,350 USDA Rural Development Loan, a $250,000 Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant and the OWRB REAP grant of $150,000.

-- from staff reports