neighborhoods have the power they need as demand increases. In parallel, a $28 million wastewater treatment plant now in design will modernize essential services, improve environmental resilience, and better protect the waterways that define the region. Taken together, Collinsville is managing about $56 million in infrastructure projects, an extraordinary figure for a city its size and a sign of the foresight guiding its leaders. Ralls emphasizes that this vision stretches further than most. “Most cities create five-year capital improvement plans. We’re putting together a 12-year plan,” he says.That longer horizon allows Collinsville to stage projects, synchronize upgrades, and prepare for growth in advance instead of reacting to crises. The city is even exploring municipal broadband as a utility. This move could provide residents with affordable, high-speed internet while also giving small businesses and remote workers a competitive edge. “If the city can provide reliable, low-cost internet, it will benefit both citizens and businesses,” Ralls adds. 49 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10 COLLINSVILLE, OK
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