Siloam Springs, dam authority recognize hometown heroes

SILOAM SPRINGS — Grand River Dam Authority and Siloam Springs are sharing the message “Heroes work here,” to recognize essential employees continuing to meet critical needs in their hometowns throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Critical needs for any community include electricity, water and sewer as well as other municipal services. The authority has been the wholesale electricity supplier for the city since 1989.

“Each time we turn on a water tap or flip a light switch, we automatically expect it to work,” said Dan Sullivan, authority chief executive officer. “In recent months we’ve learned that these simple resources we take for granted are vital to everyday life. The ‘heroes work here’ initiative is one way we can recognize not only utility workers but all the municipal workers who have kept Oklahoma hometowns (and Siloam Springs) functioning.” As part of the initiative, the authority designed and printed banners for each of its electricity customer communities, including Siloam Springs. The public power communities purchase wholesale electricity from authority and resell it.

Revenue from electric sales are used to maintain electric systems and pay for essential city services such as police, fire, parks and streets. Most municipalities are solely dependent on sales tax revenue to pay for their services but those with a community-owned electric utility generate revenue to support those communities, especially during the challenges of recent months.

“We are incredibly thankful for our hardworking city employees, especially those who work day and night to ensure our water, wastewater, and electrical systems are working properly,” said Phillip Patterson, city administrator for Siloam Springs. “These dedicated employees work in all types of conditions, and are heroes in their service to the community. Our crews work hard to ensure that these essential services are continually provided to all of our customers.”

“The banner program allows GRDA to thank these essential municipal employees for taking such good care of their citizen-customers,” said Sullivan. “It’s also another way for us to say how proud we are to be their public power partner.”

The authority is Oklahoma’s largest public power utility; fully paid for by revenue from electric and water sales instead of taxes.

(Courtesy Photo) Siloam Springs employees pose with the “Heroes Work Here” banner presented by the Grand River Dam Authority. The authority and Siloam Springs have been public power partners since 1989. Pictured are David Samuel (from left), Ryan Schraub, Derick Ferguson, Clayton Harp, Lonnie Leroy, Briar Huff, Barry Yocham, Glenn Severn and Tommy Vaught.