Lawrence board approves $257,500 in contracts with Lochmuller Group for stormwater planning and MS4 compliance

The City of Lawrence Stormwater Advisory Board approved two contracts with Lochmuller Group totaling $257,500 to update the city’s stormwater capital improvements plan and to provide annual MS4 program services. The board voted to approve preliminary engineering design services for a five‑year stormwater capital improvements plan not to exceed $120,400 and approved a separate annual MS4 professional services contract not to exceed $137,100. Ron (Rob) Schleifer moved to approve the capital plan contract and Tracy Boyd seconded; the board approved the motion. Tracy Boyd moved to approve the MS4 contract; the motion was seconded and approved. Emily Nelson, water resources department manager for Lochmuller Group in Indianapolis, told the board the capital improvements plan (CIP) work will include a five‑year prioritization of projects, up to five field sites for detailed review, about a week of fieldwork, and construction cost estimates to help during budget planning. Nelson said Lochmuller will review prior plans (the board referenced a 2015 plan) and recommend which projects still need capital work versus those that can be addressed with maintenance. On MS4 compliance, Nelson said Lochmuller will assist with annual reporting, new ordinances and permit requirements, dry‑weather outfall inspections and as‑needed engineering support for illicit discharges or construction site inspections. Nelson described dry‑weather inspections as visits to outfalls to verify no flow; she said there are just under 200 outfalls on the city’s list. The contract is hourly and “as needed,” she said, so charges apply only when services are used. Councilor Liz Missouri spoke from the public and said she supports the CIP work and requested input on site selection. Board members and staff discussed the CIP’s budgeting value: a CIP with estimated project costs helps the city plan multi‑year funding rather than reactively repairing sites. Lochmuller also said it can help identify potential grant programs and coordinate with city utilities so projects are performed once instead of repeatedly disturbing neighborhoods. Both motions passed with no recorded opposition, and staff will coordinate with Lochmuller on site selection and project scoping.