St. Albans council directs feasibility study of former junior high site, orders drain inspection

The St. Albans City Council confirmed it will proceed with a feasibility study of the former Saint Albans Junior High School property and instructed staff to inspect an aging drainage line that runs through the parcel.

Council members and residents debated whether the site should become a park or be developed for housing and raised infrastructure questions tied to a storm drain that council members said was installed about a century ago. A council member said the body had previously voted unanimously to pursue a feasibility study and that the immediate next step is a camera inspection of the drain to assess structural condition and determine whether the line must be relocated before any development.

The study will ask engineering consultants to examine what can be built given the existing drainage infrastructure, council members said. Members discussed renderings prepared by Thrasher and more recent work from Chapman (an engineering firm), and emphasized that the renderings are conceptual while the feasibility study should determine what is actually “feasible” to build with the existing piping and site constraints.

Councilmember Mike Burrows asked that the feasibility request to Chapman specifically include “the condition of the drain,” and city stormwater staff said they would run a camera through the line as part of the assessment. Council members noted the pipe’s age and said a camera inspection will show whether the pipe is structurally sound or must be moved.

Residents at the meeting urged park use for the site. Mary Lou Lullig, a St. Albans resident, said converting older school lots into parks can serve nearby residents and called the idea “a great idea,” adding that parks provide accessible open space for neighborhoods.

Council members also discussed parking requests from a local railroad-affiliated group. Council members said no binding promises were made to outside parties and that any specific parking allocations would be considered only when a final plan is developed and approved by council.

Cost estimates for a feasibility study were discussed in the meeting and varied widely in preliminary remarks: earlier estimates mentioned $2,000–$4,000, council members later said a realistic range could be $5,000–$10,000 and that bids would be needed to determine the exact cost. One council member said informal conversation in the meeting had referenced amounts as high as $25,000, but the council directed staff to solicit bids and get a firm price. No formal payment amount or contract award was recorded at the meeting.

Next steps identified by council members: (1) issue requests for quotes or bids for a feasibility study that includes a stormwater camera inspection and geotechnical input, (2) have stormwater/public works run the drain camera and report findings to council, and (3) return to council with study results before making a final decision on park, housing, parking or sale of the property.