Muskogee County Community Action Foundation, Inc.

11/20/2025

🔹 Google is planning two new data centers in Muskogee County as part of a $9B investment in Oklahoma.

Local leaders say the project could reshape the region’s tech and energy landscape.

MORE DETAILS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT: https://www.newson6.com/technology/google-data-centers-muskogee-county-oklahoma?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KOTV_-_News_On_6

10/22/2025

Effective November 1, 2025, OHFA will begin implementing the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Until now, our agency has followed Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to inspect rental units. NSPIRE establishes a modernized approach for defining and assessing housing quality.

NSPIRE strengthens HUD's inspection standards and oversight by aligning all HUD-assisted housing programs under one consistent inspection module. The goal is to ensure that every assisted household resides in a safe, operable, and hazard-free home where both interior and exterior components are maintained in good condition.

More information on NSPIRE and related HUD notices can be found on the HUD website: https://bit.ly/4q9neEb

As we move forward with this change, OHFA is dedicated to assisting all landlords and participants in understanding and applying the new NSPIRE standards.

10/21/2025

Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) has announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be suspended starting Nov. 1, 2025, due to the

10/02/2025

The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency - OHFA is committed to supporting the housing stability of the families we serve through multiple programs. A U.S. federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, due to a lapse in appropriations. While OHFA does not control federal funding, we want to provide clear information on how this may affect you and what steps you can take.

OHFA is actively monitoring the situation and advocating for timely federal funding to protect Oklahoma families. We appreciate your patience and will provide further notices as developments occur. Your housing stability is our priority.

If you are receiving rental assistance, continue paying your rent on time to avoid any issues with your lease.

Visit the OHFA website for information about how the government shutdown impacts OHFA programs and customers: https://bit.ly/3KCkoap

09/16/2025

09/12/2025

Dear Customers,

This past week, our community experienced a water service disruption that caused frustration and hardship for many. I want to take this opportunity to explain what occurred, share how the City responded, and assure you of the steps taken to protect your health and safety.

The disruption began during a planned maintenance inspection of the City’s raw water transmission line from Ft. Gibson Lake. During the process, specialized cleaning equipment became lodged in the line, requiring crews to access and remove it in a remote, heavily wooded area southeast of Ft. Gibson Dam. Our public works and water distribution staff immediately mobilized and worked around the clock to restore service. Thanks to their commitment, water was returned to the system far more quickly than initially expected.
As the system recharged, areas at higher elevations—including Honor Heights—were among the last to regain full pressure. During this recovery, staff encountered unexpected difficulties caused by previously unknown engineering anomalies within the system, which complicated and slowed the process. In addition, to avoid a possible evacuation of the Veterans Administration Hospital, we made the difficult but necessary decision to temporarily shut down the pump feeding the Haskell area in order to redirect water flow. This ensured the VA hospital could remain in service, while crews worked tirelessly to restore other affected areas.

Throughout the incident, the City remained in continuous contact with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). At ODEQ’s recommendation, and out of an abundance of caution, we issued a precautionary boil advisory for residents. I want to emphasize: all water testing during and after the event showed no contamination. Every sample taken—including additional testing at Saint Francis Hospital—met and exceeded all safety standards. The advisory was precautionary only, and it will be lifted at 4:30 p.m. today. We chose to keep it in place for a full 24 hours to ensure the highest level of caution.

This response was truly a team effort. Public Works, City, Muskogee County, Creek Nation and Wagoner County Emergency Management, the Muskogee, Fort Gibson, and Mountain View Fire Departments, and our Communications staff all worked side by side to minimize the impact on residents. We are especially grateful to our partners at the Fort Gibson and Mountain View Fire Departments, whose support was vital in maintaining continuous service to the VA hospital and protecting vulnerable residents throughout this emergency.

I acknowledge that communication during this event was at times challenging, and there were periods when little information could be provided. Even so, my team made it a priority to share updates the moment new details became available. Our intent was to be transparent and keep you as informed as possible, even when the information was limited, so you would know that the City was actively addressing the situation and working toward full restoration.

I am incredibly proud of the dedication shown by my team and our area partners. Their long hours, teamwork, and expertise prevented a much larger crisis and ensured water was restored safely and quickly. We understand the challenges this event caused and are grateful for your patience and understanding as we worked through it.

Moving forward, the City will continue to evaluate both our processes and infrastructure to strengthen resilience and reduce the risk of similar disruptions. Following this event, my staff and I have already met to debrief and review our response. These lessons will help us improve our preparedness and ensure we are better equipped for future challenges. Your trust is important to us, and we remain committed to transparency, safety, and reliable service.
On behalf of my team, thank you for standing with us as we serve our community.

Kendal Francis
City Manager

09/11/2025

City of Muskogee Actively Addressing Water Issue

The City of Muskogee is actively addressing the water service issues that arose following yesterday’s outage. The City was performing maintenance on the raw water line, when an unexpected issue interrupted the flow. That problem has been repaired, and crews are working to fully restore service. While service has been restored for most customers, residents in the Honor Heights area continue to experience low to no water pressure.

To address the issue, City crews are taking the following steps:

Bleeding air from fire hydrants: Staff are working systematically across the system to relieve air locks, which can disrupt normal water flow.

Redirecting water flow: Valves in other areas of the city have been temporarily closed to channel a larger supply of water toward the Honor Heights water tower.

These actions are already having a positive effect, and the system is slowly recharging. Residents in the Honor Heights area should see gradual improvements in water pressure as the system stabilizes.

“We understand the frustration this has caused and appreciate our residents’ patience as we work through these challenges,” said City Manager Kendal Francis. “Our crews are working around the clock to restore full service as quickly as possible.”

Precautionary boil advisory, Muskogee Water Plant, Public Water Supply ID: OK 1021607, a break in the raw water transmission line led to low pressure in the system and created a potential for contamination. As a result of this issue the drinking water supplied by Muskogee Water Plant may be unsafe for human consumption. As a precaution, it is advised that the consumers of this water system bring the water to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, consumption, food preparation, baby formula preparation, dish washing, tooth brushing, ice making, wound care, and bathing infants who may ingest bath water. Alternatively, bottled water or another acceptable water source may be used. Our routine sampling test results confirmed the water is safe and met all required standards. However, after consultation with ODEQ and out of an abundance caution, the city is issuing this advisory. This advisory will remain in effect until further notice. Questions concerning this situation should be addressed to Muskogee Public Works at (918)684-6333. Address 301 S. Cherokee Street, Muskogee, OK 74403. Further general information can be found on the DEQ website: www. deq.ok.gov.

The City will continue to provide updates as progress is made.

Information on our website: https://www.muskogeeok.gov/news_detail_T2_R764.php

09/09/2025

Dear Customer,

Beginning October 1, 2025, your utility bill will reflect updated rates for water, sewer, stormwater, and sanitation services. These changes include a 2.2% adjustment across all services and a $7.75 increase to the monthly base sewer rate.

We understand that any increase affects your household budget, and we want you to know why these adjustments are necessary and how they benefit our community. These adjustments—approved by the City Council in 2015 and 2024—are part of a long-term plan to keep Muskogee’s utility services safe, reliable, and sustainable. Every dollar collected stays within the Muskogee Municipal Authority and is used only for water, sewer, stormwater, and sanitation operations.

What’s Changing
• 2.2% increase on water, sewer, stormwater, and sanitation rates
• $7.75 monthly base sewer increase (year 2 of a 3-year plan, 2024–2026)
• For an average household using 6,000 gallons per month, this equals about $9.88 per month

Why These Changes Are Needed
• To fund improvements at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and meet state and federal standards
• To cover rising costs due to inflation (Consumer Price Index)
• To maintain and upgrade aging water and sewer infrastructure that serves all residents

Assistance Options
We care about making these changes as manageable as possible:
• Discounts are available for income-qualifying seniors and disabled residents
• Payment plans (up to two per year) can help spread out costs
• AquaHawk monitoring service is available to help you track water usage and avoid surprises on your bill

For more details, please view our full list of FAQs at https://www.muskogeeok.gov/departments/city_clerk/water_services/faq.php You can also call the Utility Office at (918) 682-6602 if you’d like to speak with someone directly.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you. These investments today will help ensure Muskogee continues to have dependable, high-quality utility services for years to come.

08/29/2025

💡 Bright Future Ahead: Affordable housing is more than just a roof over your head – it’s a stepping stone to financial stability. When your rent is manageable, you can save for emergencies, pay off debt, and invest in your family’s future. That’s why MCCAF is here: to empower you with a home you can afford and hope for tomorrow 🌟🏡.

08/27/2025

🐶 Happy National Dog Day! Our townhomes are pet-friendly because we know your furry friends are family, too. 🐾 With a simple pet deposit, you can bring your dog or cat to your new home. Enjoy family living (with pets!) at an affordable price – plus snag that 1 month free rent on a 12-month lease. Don’t paws, apply now and fetch this deal! 😉🏠

08/26/2025

🏡 Housing Options for You: Did you know MCCAF offers both single-family rental houses and townhomes? Whether your family prefers a standalone house with a yard or the convenience of a townhome community, we have affordable options across Muskogee County (from Muskogee to Fort Gibson to Warner). Find the home that fits your needs!