DURANT, OK -- A new year brings lots of new projects for the City of Durant that they hope will grow business and revenue down the road.
Kristen Shanahan brings us the story.

Several projects and new additions got a thumbs up at Durant's City Council Meeting Tuesday.

"2013 is off to a good start. Yes it is," Durant Mayor Jerry Tomlinson said.

The Durant Police Department will not only be getting a new Animal Control Vehicle, but five new Tahoes. Chief Durward Cook says four of the Tahoes will be driven by patrol officers and one will be used by detectives.

"It's just a better tool for our officers. They've got more room for equipment. It's a little larger. Visibility is there," Durant Police Chief Durward Cook said.

The council also approved construction on a new water tower in North Durant at Chuckwa and University. Mayor Jerry Tomlinson says work will begin in the next few weeks on the one million gallon tower, and when it is done later this year it will better serve SOSU, Durant High School and area residents. He says the $3-million dollar project also prepares the city for future construction.

"The state will not issue any new building construction bonds or monies until the water pressure is adequate. I mean it's adequate today, but any future construction would significantly impact the water pressure," Mayor Tomlinson said.

Construction will also kick off this month to improve the drainage at Main and Washington streets all in an effort to make way for a major retailer, that Mayor Tomlinson would not name.

"We'll have some traffic issues as we work on that, but about a 90 day probably project," Mayor Tomlinson said.

Also at the meeting council members discussed widening an area of University from two to three lanes by adding a turn lane.