ROLAND, Okla. — Cherokee Nation leaders met with Roland Oklahoma officials on Friday, Dec. 9 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a $500,000 project that aims to provide better water storage and capacity in the city.
The project aims to construct a 500,000-gallon water tower and repair an existing 1-million-gallon water tower.
“This is a project of great importance that’s about increasing water capacity and upgrading a water system that will help serve this fine community,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.
“The opportunity to help a community with something that is going to make a generational impact is something we are always looking for.”
“The need to improve infrastructure keeps us looking for new opportunities,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “All of these folks are hard-working individuals, and we want to make sure we take care of these families and look ahead... These are communities that we’ll never forget and we will always have their backs.”
The funds were made available under the Cherokee Nation Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan.
Tribal Councilor Daryl Legg says, “When we do something like this, it’s not just for the Cherokee Nation’s benefit. We are good partners to the state of Oklahoma and to our local communities... Everyone around is going to benefit from this – everybody in the community. I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”
The existing water tower in Roland is over 20 years old and was damaged in recent months by storms and flooding. A second water tower is also needed in the town in order to drain and repair the existing tower, according to Roland Town Administrator Monty Lenington.
“I’m very, very appreciative of the Cherokee Nation for their funding on this,” Lenington said. “They help with a lot of projects in town. They’ve helped with paving in the past, they’ve helped with water lines, they’ve assisted our emergency services and they’ve just been a really good partner. We appreciate everything they do for us.”
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