From: Micheal W. Shannon, City Manager

To the Citizens of Guymon,

I want to personally address the recent water service interruptions that many of our citizens have experienced because of the City’s ongoing wastewater infrastructure replacement project, commonly referred to as pipe bursting.

First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologize to every resident, family, and business that has been inconvenienced by these unexpected water service interruptions. I fully understand the frustration of being without water, especially when these interruptions occur without warning.

I believe our citizens deserve an explanation of what is happening, why it is happening, and what we are doing to minimize these disruptions.

Much of Guymon’s underground infrastructure has been in place for many decades. In numerous locations throughout our community, the existing wastewater lines and water distribution lines run parallel to one another, often in very close proximity.

As contractors work to replace the aging sewer lines through the pipe-bursting process, the movement and pressure associated with this construction can disturb the surrounding soil and nearby waterlines. Unfortunately, many of these older waterlines have become extremely fragile over the years. Even minor movement can cause them to crack or break, resulting in unexpected water service interruptions.

These breaks are not intentional, nor are they the result of anyone wanting to inconvenience our citizens. They are an unfortunate consequence of working around aging underground infrastructure that has served our community for generations.

Please understand that the City of Guymon is working with our contractors and utility personnel to identify ways to reduce the frequency of these breaks. We are evaluating construction procedures, taking additional precautions where possible, and working to restore water service as quickly and safely as circumstances allow.

However, I also want to be straightforward with our citizens. Construction is construction, and when dealing with infrastructure that has been underground for decades, unexpected challenges are sometimes unavoidable. Despite our best efforts, additional waterline breaks may occur as this important project continues.

While the immediate inconveniences are frustrating, we must not lose sight of why this work is necessary. Guymon cannot continue to rely indefinitely on aging infrastructure without making the investments necessary to protect our community’s future.

Replacing these wastewater lines is an important step toward improving the reliability of our utility system, reducing future failures, and ensuring that Guymon remains a community capable of supporting our families, businesses, and future generations.

As your City Manager, I take these interruptions seriously. I recognize that every waterline break affects real people, their homes, their businesses, and their daily lives. I do not take that lightly.

I ask for your continued patience, understanding, and cooperation as we work through these difficult construction conditions. We cannot promise there will be no additional interruptions, but we can promise that we will continue working to minimize them and respond as quickly as possible when they occur.

In closing, I want to personally thank the citizens of Guymon for their patience. I also want to recognize our City employees, utility crews, and contractors who are working under challenging circumstances to keep essential services operating.

We are not simply replacing sewer lines. We are investing in the future of Guymon. Sometimes progress comes with inconvenience, but our responsibility is to make sure the long-term benefits serve our citizens for generations to come.

Thank you for your understanding, and please accept my sincere apologies for the disruptions you have experienced.

Respectfully,

Micheal W. Shannon

City ManagerCity of Guymon, Oklahoma