A Ponca Tribe official is sure that a plan to fix up several rural Cowley County roads will proceed and be a “total win-win” for the county and the tribal casino.
Jeff Lieb, roads director for the tribe, said Wednesday he is only waiting for a phone call from officials here before moving forward to the next step of the project. The Ponca propose to spend up to $3 million to improve a network of dirt roads near Arkansas City.
“I think Cowley County is willing to work us,” Lieb said. “We’re going to get this done.”
Paving and widening the roads would create a sort of mini bypass to serve the $60 million Ponca Fancy Dance Casino, which will set just south of the Kansas-Oklahoma line. Lieb expects ground to be broken on the casino very soon.
He says fixing up the rural roads is vital to the success of the casino, which will be the only one in a cluster of gaming facilities that does not face U.S. 77.
An important part of the agreement would be a plan and funding for future maintenance of the improved roads. At least one Ark City official has questioned who would pay for upkeep of the roads.
Lieb believes a written agreement will be reached to provide upkeep and make a number of improvements. He said the project is an opportunity for the tribe and Cowley County to work together.
The new roads will be just one way Ark City and Cowley County reap economic benefit from the casino, Lieb said. Ponca tribe officials are sure to look to this area for employees, goods and services, he said.
The road project, he said, is the first he knows of that will be a joint effort between an Oklahoma tribe and entities in another state.
The route marked for improvement would start at U.S. 77 and Stateline Road and continue west 1.7 miles to 41st Road. From 41st Road improvements would continue north from one mile to 322nd Road, which is also known as Cowley 22. The work would continue for three miles west to 11th road, better known as Cowley 10.
