Newcastle is experiencing incredible growth. In fact, a newspaper article by reporter Jana Hayes in the Oklahoman last year states that Newcastle is the fastest-growing city in the state with an 8.9% growth rate.
Along with that growth, comes growing pains. In order to address these, the City of Newcastle is facing several large and costly projects which will help address the influx of people, structures and services. Our City is also taking steps, such as the updating of city ordinances and code, to help face the needs of a larger municipality.
Mayor Karl Nail, who cites the location of Newcastle as one of its pluses for families on the move, told the Oklahoman that city officials are trying to put things in place to address the growth which will keep the character of the community intact. If you are a reader of the Newcastle Pacer, you know of many of these projects, why they need to be done, and what the City’s plans are for accomplishing them.
These include water and wastewater infrastructure which is being updated and put in place across the community, including the City’s new $24 million wastewater treatment facility. There are also projects to address water pressure.
There’s a new animal control facility being built, a new fire station being built, and there are future plans calling for a new City Hall, and a new fresh water treatment plant. To be done right, they won’t be cheap.
Our 2020 census population was 10,984, and 2021 United States Census Bureau estimates are for a population of 12,204. We’re adding about 1,000 people per year on average so one could easily see why we would have some growing pains.
City officials have been working very hard to balance out the growing City budget with the growing needs of our community. In the end, according to Mayor Nail, the intent is to put things in place which will help Newcastle with quality of life improvements and guide the growth.
We say keep up the good work. — Mark Codner, the Newcastle Pacer
