The Utility Maintenance branch of the Utilities Department is responsible for maintaining 170 miles of water line and 143 miles of sewer line. This branch is led by Tim Murray, Utility Maintenance Superintendant.

 Mr. Murray has been employed with the City of McAlester since April, 1985 where he started out as a Utility Man before moving up to a Heavy Equipment Operator and working in that position for 15 years. In January of 2000 Mr. Murray was promoted to Foremen for the Utility Maintenance Branch and held that position for 8 years before being promoted to Utility Maintenance Superintendant in November of 2008.

 Mr. Murray holds a Class B – Distribution & Collection License, Class C – Sewer License and a Class C – Water Works License through the State of Oklahoma. He also is registered with Oklahoma Homeland Security.

The Utility Maintenance Branch employs 1 Foreman, 4 Heavy Equipment operators and 5 Utility Men, which make up 4 crews that consist of 1 operator and 1 Utility Man per crew. These 4 crews are responsible for many different repairs and maintenance around the City, which include the following services that are provided for the City of McAlester residents:

·        Repair of water breaks on public properties.

·        Relocation of water meters and service lines.

·        Investigation of low water pressure.

·        Fire hydrant repair, replacement and preventive maintenance.

·        Investigation of sanitary sewer odors.

·        Smoke testing and removal of sanitary sewer blockages and overflows.

·        Cleaning and repairing of sanitary sewer lines.

·        Restoration of public and private property after repair of water and sewer lines.

·        Installation of new city water meters.

·        Locating city water and sewer lines for Oklahoma One Call System.

The Utility Maintenance Operators and Maintenance Men repair over 300 main water breaks a year and maintain over 7000 water meters per year, they also flush and maintain over 500 sewer lines per year and 840 fire hydrants.  

Information:

 The Utility Maintenance Department is located at 1212 N. West Street, McAlester, Okla. 74501. The office of Tim Murray is on the North side of the building, which is referred to as the City Barn.

 Phone Numbers:

 8:00am thru 5:00pm / Mon. thru Fri.                                         (918) 423-9300 Ext. 4993    

 After hours (for Emergency only) McAlester Police Dept.      (918) 423-1212       

 The Utility Maintenance Department does have a crew on call 24 hours a day for emergency situations. The City of McAlester request that you only use this service if you have an emergency. The following conditions would be considered an emergency:     

Ø      City sewer over flowing or blocked

Ø      City main water break (with a large amount of water being lost)    This does NOT include a meter leak or a small leak that is bubbling water. This needs to be reported the following business day.

Ø      Resident that needs water shut off due to a water break.              This does not include turning water off to fix a customers line that has been leaking all week and is called in after hours. This needs to be called in during normal City work hours.

Ø      Resident has no water 

Please note: If the City Utility Department sends an on call crew to your home and it is NOT an emergency situation the Utility Department will not make the repairs until the following business day.

 Utility Maintenance Projects: 

• Utility Maintenance is in the process of replacing a 2 inch city water line on East Wichita from 4^th Street to 5^th Street, this project should be completed within the next 30 days.

Future Projects: 

• Utility Maintenance will be laying a new 10 inch sewer line 1000 feet at the  Southeast Expo Center. This project will be started within the next 30 days.