At a July meeting, the Utility Service Board for the City of Lawrence approved Task Order No. 6 with American StructurePoint Inc. for a not-to-exceed $197,500 to advance the Lawrence 2026 inflow and infiltration (I&I) reduction project.

The task order covers the intermediate design phase to 60% and will provide updated recommendations and a condition assessment of sewer segments identified as high priority in a 2010 sanitary sewer evaluation study. Paul, the utilities superintendent, said the task order includes project area boundaries and an attached map to guide the design work.

The board’s approval came by voice vote after a motion and second; four of the board’s five members were present to establish a quorum. The board’s presiding officer called for the vote and the motion carried.

During the superintendent’s report, staff also said pre-construction meetings have taken place for two related projects. The Fort Harrison collection system capacity improvements project (phase 3) on Shafter Avenue, which crosses State Park property and a golf course, held a pre-construction meeting on July 18; the contractor’s preliminary schedule indicates work would begin Aug. 8, 2025. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been kept informed because the work is on State Park property, the superintendent said.

A separate pre-construction meeting was held July 1 for the 70 First Street Lift Station Basin I&I removal project; the contractor indicated a planned mobilization on Aug. 25, 2025.

No ordinances or state statutes were cited during the discussion. Board members did not record roll-call vote tallies in the meeting transcript; approvals were taken by voice vote.

The board received the superintendent’s report and approved the design task order and related schedule updates; staff will proceed under the approved task order and the contractors’ stated start dates, subject to any permitting or coordination on State Park property.