The City of Piedmont

Mayor Mike Fina
September 7, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mayor Mike Fina
Office: (405) 373-1390
Mobile : (405) 820-5281

Piedmont Mayor Signs $4.25 Million Water Loan

PIEDMONT – Friday Piedmont Mayor Mike Fina signed a $4.25 million loan with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB). Construction will now begin on the largest water project in the city’s history. “This is a significant day for Piedmont ,” Fina said. “Once complete this project will end years of water problems brought on by the rapid growth of the city.”

The project consists of constructing six miles of water line connecting to the Oklahoma City water system. The project also includes the construction of a 400,000-gallon water tank, a booster station and water line connecting the city’s main water tower to the new one. Fina said that the new water tank would relieve water problems on the city’s west side that has been plagued by low water pressure for many years.

After completion Piedmont will increase water capacity by five million gallons per day. Currently Piedmont ’s peak usage is approximately 1.3 million gallons per day. Although Fina doesn’t anticipate the city immediately using the higher capacity, future growth predications indicate the project will suffice the city for 10 to 15 years. Piedmont ’s estimated population is 6,500 up from 3,200 from the year 2000.

Currently Piedmont utilizes a well field supplemented by purchasing water from Oklahoma City .

The six miles of water line will be constructed by RDM Construction, Inc and the water tower will be constructed by Caldwell Tank, Inc. The entire project is slated for completion in six to nine months.

To pay for the project Piedmont was forced to raise water rates $7 for customer in the city and $9 for customers outside the city. Currently Piedmont has a moratorium on out of city water taps. Fina said this project would allow the city to lift the moratorium, expanding the number of water customers.

Friday afternoon officials with the City of Piedmont , the OWRB and the Department of Environmental Quality celebrated the commencement of the project with a ceremonial loan signing at the George Fina Municipal Building in Piedmont.

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February 19, 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Fina
Mobile (405) 820-5281
Email: finaformayor@mikefina.com

Fina Announces Mayoral Bid

Runs on Platform of “Unity in the Community”

PIEDMONT – Piedmont City Councilman Mike Fina officially announced this week plans to seek the open Mayor seat vacated by former Mayor Greg Banta. “After much soul searching and counsel with my family, I made the decision to seek the post,” Fina said.

Fina, born and raised in Piedmont said, “The community is at a crossroads, struggling with big-city growth while trying to retain a small-town feel.” “This issue has created a developer vs. resident attitude, that I encounter at every council meeting. Managing this kind of problem will take a leader with broad experience and the ability to find compromise,” he said.

Fina worked six years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, several of those as Press Secretary to Speaker of the House Larry E. Adair. Currently, he is the Chief Information Officer for the Oklahoma Department of Tourism. “In my time as a legislative staff member and now at the Tourism Department, I have learned that Piedmont is not alone in its problems. Many cities face the same hardships,” Fina said.

Fina explained that his Unity in the Community platform consists of four planks:

· Smart growth – Require new developments to financially participate in the construction of infrastructure and street improvements.

· Develop a new comprehensive plan for the city – Create a new and effective comprehensive plan that will guide us through the next ten years of growth with community participation.

· Provide more activities in the community for all ages -- Work with the Parks & Recreation Board and the Piedmont Sports Association to create more adult fitness activities. And in the future, build a community center that will provide a nucleus for many community activities.

· Create a more cohesive community – Communicate regularly with the Piedmont School Board and provide time for all community organizations to address the City Council. Open our local government to more community participation to better help unite citizens to accomplish our common goal of a better Piedmont.

Although Fina is the newest member of the Piedmont City Council, he boasts several accomplishments in his tenure including the creation of the Piedmont Community Organizations Board, the city contracting with Josh McClintock Consulting to pursue funds in Washington D.C. and at the State Capitol and bringing the Oklahoma Community Institute to Piedmont to help with community-wide planning. “It was my goal to make an immediate impact on the council by proposing new ideas that in the past were never thought of by previous councils,” Fina said.

“It would be my honor to serve the community as Mayor, and if given that opportunity I will use everyday of my term making this community the best it can be,” Fina pledged.

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Mike is sworn in to office as a city Councilman by former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh

“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.”
Will Rogers, Great Oklahoman & Humorist