Cowley County commissioners will continue their discussion Tuesday morning on the Ponca Tribe’s proposal to improve county roads that would lead to a casino the tribe plans to build near the Kansas-Oklahoma border.
It will be the first opportunity for commissioners to discuss input from residents of the affected area who attended a special commission meeting earlier this month.
“We’ve not received any written agreements or proposals to date,” County Administrator Leroy Alsup said. “I don’t know if we’ve even progressed to that point yet to get a formal proposal.”
Alsup said he understood that the next step is for the engineer selected for the project to come up with an updated cost estimate for what has been estimated to run $3 million. That hasn’t occurred yet.
Cowley County officials have said the project could bring needed improvements to a nine-mile stretch of roads that might otherwise not be improved. They are also aware that some residents in the area have voiced concerns about increased traffic.
The roads would connect U.S. 166 west of Arkansas City with the intersection of U.S. 77 and State Line Road.
Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and be held in the first floor assembly room at the courthouse. Meetings are open to the public.
“I’m not aware the commission is going to make any decision. It’s my understanding (the discussion) is more of an update and general discussion. Of course, the county commission can make a decision any time during a regular meeting,” Alsup said.?
