Update: The follow are the Oklahoma County bond issue voting results:

• Passed - Tinker Air Force Base ($55M)
• Passed - County Courthouse Renovation ($10.5M)
• Failed - County Record Retention ($5.75M)
• Failed - County Cooperative Extension Service ($7.25M)
• Passed - Natural Hazard Mitigation and Flood Relief ($6M)

Update: Tomorrow, May 13, is the vote for the flood mitigation bond issue that includes the Deer Creek Area.  The bond proposition is number 5 on the ballot.  We encourage everybody to get out and vote Yes.

District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner  Raymond L. Vaughn, Jr. is a husband, father,  grandfather, and native Oklahoman. In 2006,  the citizens of Oklahoma County elected him  to serve a four-year term as County  Commissioner for District 3, which covers  most of Northern Oklahoma County including  Edmond, Arcadia, Luther, The Village,  Nichols Hills, Warr Acres, Bethany and  Oklahoma City. When he took office on  January 2, 2007, his colleagues elected him as Vice-Chair of the Board of  County Commissioners.

1. What exactly is the bond proposition for flood mitigation for the Deer Creek area?  Proposition 5 provides $6M for flood control and other disaster relief projects in Oklahoma County.  Because of Federal disaster declarations, Deer Creek will qualify to receive $3 in federal funds for every $1 spent by Oklahoma County.  Therefore, the $6M investment will potentially triple in value for hazard mitigation projects.  We are working with an engineering firm to design a series of flood control measures for Deer Creek.  Preliminary plans call for a dam and resulting recreational lake of about 400 acres with a series of ponds stretching across a portion of Deer Creek.  The lake and string of ponds will allow management of water flow during inclement weather.  The improvements will also allow for the development of related parks and trails.
    
2. How is it going to be funded and where is the county portion coming from?
    The voters must approve Proposition 5 of the Bond Issue on May 13th in order for Oklahoma County to have the necessary funds for the flood control project.  If approved, the County will sell General Obligation Bonds that will be paid by ad valorem taxes over the next 15 years.  The 3:1 reimbursement will come from federal tax dollars.  Incidentally, the County may only spend Bond funds approved under Proposition 5 for natural hazard mitigation projects. 
    
3. Is it tied into the other bond proposals or is it a stand alone issue?
    All 5 propositions on the May 13th ballot are “stand alone” issues.  A voter may choose to vote “yes” on all of them or select only the Propositions he or she wishes to approve. 
    
4. If passed what is the schedule for starting the project?
    Because of the enormity of the project and federal application process, it will take time to finalize the design and start construction.  We expect that construction will begin within the next 4 to 5 years.  Oklahoma County is also working to address flooding problems in the East Central part of the County.  That project, although much smaller in scope, is farther along in the design and application process and will therefore receive the first Bond funds.
    
5. The county has been involved with a lot of projects in the Deer Creek area.  What are some of the upcoming projects we haven’t heard about yet?
     We appreciate working with our constituents in Deer Creek and are excited about many of the opportunities on the horizon.  We expect a new bridge on 178th Street (just East of Meridian) to open within the next few weeks.  Recently, we received approval of a grant enabling improvement to the Deer Creek Fire Station, which also received new equipment within the last few months through our Emergency Management Department.  Further, another recent grant is providing funds to design and engineer a new and improved intersection at 206th (Covell) and MacArthur, which will expand a ½ mile in all directions.  We continue to develop of our Safe Routes to School projects, which include additional sidewalks, crosswalks, flashing school zone lights, bike parking, and other improvements that will make it safer and easier for kids to walk to school, thus lessening bus and auto traffic around Deer Creek’s elementary schools.  In fact, there will be numerous neighborhood meetings the week of April 21st to learn more about the Safe Routes project as well as the Bond Issue.  These will take place Monday, April 21st at 6:00 PM in the Gym at Prairie Vale Elementary, Tuesday, April 22, starting at 7:00 Pm at Deer Creek Elementary, and in the Remington neighborhood on Thursday, April 24th, 7:00 PM, at 4213 NW 143 Street.