By Daniel Lapham/Staff Writer
published April 2, 2008

El Reno’s Municipal Public Works Department could move to a new location as early as September if plans are adopted.

On Tuesday, the El Reno Capital Improvement Program Executive Committee will consider the plan that would move the department to a location on Spur Lane.

Site plans are undergoing adjustments to the area where the city established an unmanned fire station in east El Reno. The site is on Spur Lane, in an industrial area just north of state Highway 66.

“The City Council approved a purchase option in February,” said City Manager Tony Rivera. “That puts a hold on the property so the realtor cannot sell it out from under us. We wanted to do that so we could develop the site plans to see if the property would work.”

The Public Works Department is currently housed in four buildings surrounding Jenks Simmons Field House. Several offices are housed downtown in the Municipal Building, as well. The new location would move the street, water, parks and maintenance departments to one building on Spur Lane. The building would house offices for those department heads, as well as the Public Works director.

“We are trying to stay in the $300,000 range including building equipment,” Rivera said. “The reason we think this would be a good location is the relatively cheap price we could build on the property and what we think we can get it for.” Rivera said he and Mayor Matt White have looked at other properties and both believe “this area would best serve our purpose.”