Lawrence City utility board approves Harrison Point I&I study, appoints Paul Warner superintendent

The Lawrence City Utility Service Board on Jan. 14 approved a not-to-exceed $46,835 task order with American StructurePoint to study infiltration and inflow contributions from Harrison Point Apartments and took several routine administrative actions including appointing Paul Warner as the utilities superintendent.

The approvals came at a regularly scheduled meeting where Paul Warner, interim utilities superintendent, presented the task order and an update on ongoing sewer and water projects. "Tonight, the utilities is seeking approval of task order number 3 with American Structure Point and the not to exceed amount of $46,835 to begin the Lawrence Harrison Point Apartments I and I study," Warner said, referring to efforts to identify private sewer connections that add stormwater and other unwanted flows into the city system under an Agreed Order on Consent from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The nut of the decision: the city will fund an initial investigation of the private sewer complex to measure how much infiltration and inflow (I&I) it contributes, present findings to property management and owners, and establish a timeline for repairs if required. Warner said the utilities department has prioritized private complexes that discharge directly into the city system so the city can reduce the risk of sewer overflows.

Warner described related work the utilities department is pursuing, including closeout work on the Brookside Park Phase 2 water main project with RPR from BS Engineering and design work with Aegis BLN Engineering for two new production wells at the Fort Harrison well field and associated bridge upgrades planned for bid later in 2025. On the Harrison Point and other private-service sites, he told the board the department will press property owners to complete repairs and said staff "do have an effluent flow meter on that line. And if it becomes necessary, we will start charging them for the excess water that versus what we sell to them in potable water versus what they're putting out."

The board also heard an update on Maplewood, a mobile-home park where Warner said the sewer system is badly deteriorated and earlier inspections could not televise all lines because of root balls and offset pipe. Warner said engineers have submitted spreadsheets of completed improvements and staff will focus on the high-priority items identified during the investigation.

On administrative business, the board voted to retain its current chair and co-chair in a single motion by voice vote. The board approved Resolution No. 1 20 25 declaring three items— a wood table, a metal desk and a map cabinet— surplus and authorizing their disposal. The packet for the meeting included a recommendation letter from Mayor Whitfield asking the board to appoint Warner as utilities superintendent; the board then voted to appoint Paul Warner to the position.

The board approved three sanitary sewer billing adjustments for customers who experienced service-line leaks: an adjustment at 4822 North Richart Avenue for $338.30 attributed to a spigot leak; an adjustment at 5315 Grapevine Drive read aloud in the meeting as "$3.56 86" (amount as read in the transcript; the precise dollar figure was not clear on the audio record); and an adjustment at 7142 Drewster Drive for $1,965.36 reflecting two months of excess service. Each adjustment was approved by voice vote.

Other routine business included acceptance of the Jan. 14 meeting minutes and payment of claims, all approved by voice vote. There were no citizen comments recorded, and the meeting adjourned after the board moved to do so.

The meeting transcript shows the board handled the items as largely procedural approvals, with the substantive discussion focused on the Harrison Point I&I study and the condition of Maplewood's sewer system.