The Duncan Banner

Business

June 28, 2009

Building infrastructure meets needs, strengthens our future

Toni Hopper

DUNCAN — Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a series of stories focusing on what Duncan leaders are doing to attract and prepare for the possibility of growth in connection with BRAC/Fort Sill.



When Duncan Mayor Gene Brown heard two years ago that southwest Oklahoma’s population would grow, he wanted his city to gain some of those new families.

He still does.

Making a point to be involved in the public side of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Brown started attending meetings held at Fort Sill that would help leaders from area cities and towns understand what would be happening.

“We’re signing what they call a charter. We realize that when people start coming in, Fort Sill — and Lawton — is not going to be able to accommodate those and their families.”

He believes the estimated figure of 10,000 to 11,000 people is accurate.

“It’s hard to say where people are looking.”

He agrees with Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation President Lyle Roggow that those relocating from Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas, will be seeking a quality-of-life improvement.

“Most are looking for certain things ... school system, what the community has to offer.”

Touting everything from Duncan’s parks to its low crime rate, Brown said, will help attract those families.

“We have a lot of attractive things. Quality of life is a good thing, safety for kids and what the community has to offer as a whole.”

In readying for the influx of new population, Brown said the city has been active in strengthening its infrastructure, with road work, a new water tower on the way, and approval of subdivisions.

“We are trying to get ready to meet the challenges.”

One of those completed projects was the opening of a new access road that runs from Plato Road to the Duncan Public Library, which previously was accessible only from U.S. Highway 81.

Library Director Ann Brown said the facility has also increased the number of public access computers from four to eight. She said her focus is to provide more services to the public, whether Duncan grows or not.

City Manager Clyde Shaw said that the city is not building roads, but those are instead done by developers in subdivisions. He also noted that the water storage tank will have a 2 million gallon capacity. It will be near Plato Road and will improve the capacity flow in northwest Duncan.

“That has been the primary growth area,” he said.

Shaw doesn’t believe there is enough housing, though, to attract the new residents.

“There are homes available for sale or rent. When it was first announced, a lot of homes were built, but many people here upgraded their housing,” Shaw said.

The mayor said that while many of those relocating will be military, there are also many who are civilians and serve in support roles. There are also businesses that will probably relocate, he said.

“There will be young military, who are looking at homes in the $100,000 bracket. The military, it has a good pay plan, better then when I was in the military.”

Veronica Ibarra, association executive of Duncan Association of Realtors, said she hasn’t gotten inquiry calls yet from possible home buyers, but she believes many of them are doing their research online. That ties back into what Roggow is doing at Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation. The redesign of the DAEDF Web site allows those anywhere in the world with Internet access to make just a few clicks and discover what Duncan has to offer.

The new Web site address is http://www.ok-duncan.com.

Next, a look at how the Duncan Public School District figures into the BRAC attraction.

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