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Lawrence City approves engineering task orders, EPA amendment and four sewer bill adjustments
Summary
At a regular meeting, Lawrence City board approved three engineering task orders and an amendment tied to EPA work, granted a right-of-entry for tree removal at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, and authorized four sanitary sewer account adjustments totaling $4,283.76.
Lawrence City’s board approved several utilities contracts and account adjustments during a brief meeting in which routine motions were handled by voice vote.
The superintendent reported that utilities staff recommended approval of three engineering task orders and an amendment tied to ongoing sanitary-sewer work, and presented a right-of-entry form needed for tree removal related to a sewer replacement project. The board approved each item by voice vote.
The most significant item was a task order with American StructurePoint for an inflow and infiltration (I&I) study on Indian Lake Boulevard South, not to exceed $121,250. The superintendent said the study follows 2024 flow monitoring on the Indian Creek interceptor and will include CCTV inspections, cleaning and delineation of repair work to prepare the area for bidding.
The board also approved a $10,000 task order (Task Order 24, 2025) for on-call engineering services with Westler Engineering to provide timely, minor engineering responses during 2025, including issues with SCADA systems at water treatment plants. In addition, the board approved Amendment No. 4 to Task Order No. 5 (2021 EPA assistance) with American StructurePoint, increasing that task order by $46,240 for ongoing engineering and hydraulic modeling needed to address chronic sanitary sewer overflows under the administrative order on consent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Separately, the city accepted a right-of-entry document from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to allow necessary tree removal for the Shafter Avenue sanitary sewer main replacement project. The superintendent said trees 3 inches in diameter or larger in the proposed alignment may be removed before the Indiana bat rule begins April 1.
The board also approved four sanitary sewer account adjustments for customers who experienced leaks: $656.08 at 6103 Bannister Court (slab leak); $595.21 at 100027 Apple Spice Drive (burst spicket line); $1,177.14 at 7946 Alamosa Lane (service line leak); and $1,855.33 at 8024 E. 40 Second Street (service line leak in the meter pit). The superintendent reported that two of the adjustments (accounts ending 7946 and 8024) covered three-month usage after leaks were repaired and usage returned to normal.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes for the regular meeting on 2025-02-11: approved by voice vote. - Approval of claims: approved by voice vote. - Task Order 4, American StructurePoint — Indian Lake Boulevard South I&I study, not to exceed $121,250: approved by voice vote. - Task Order 24 (2025) — Westler Engineering on-call services, not to exceed $10,000: approved by voice vote. - Amendment No. 4 to Task Order No. 5 (2021 EPA assistance) — American StructurePoint, increase $46,240: approved by voice vote. - Right-of-entry with IDNR — Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park tree removal for Shafter Avenue sewer main alignment: approved by voice vote. - Sanitary sewer account adjustments: approved by voice vote (6103 Bannister Ct. $656.08; 100027 Apple Spice Dr. $595.21; 7946 Alamosa Ln. $1,177.14; 8024 E. 40 Second St. $1,855.33).
The meeting proceeded without public comment on ratepayer disputes and adjourned after routine business. Several items approved require follow-up work by utilities staff, including field inspections, TV/CCTV work and preparation of bid documents for repairs identified in the I&I study.
