Utility board discusses 50 water-main easements, unpaid restaurant conduit and schedules work session

The Lawrenceburg Utility Service Board spent part of its March meeting reviewing easement status on the U.S. 50 water-main project, an unpaid materials quote for a downtown restaurant project, and the process for issuing quotes and approvals.

Staff said two easements for the 50 water-main project have been completed and that additional easements were unnecessary until the developer builds the road. The board discussed confusion over whether the project would cross three parcels; staff said the current plan is to connect to the existing main at SR 50 and that private developers remain responsible for securing some permissions.

Separately, board members raised a concern about a $42,534.14 materials quote for conduit provided to the Union Hall restaurant project. A board member said the material and conduit work was performed and paid for by the utility but not billed or approved by the USB; staff said some material may have been taken from in-house supplies and that transformer procurement had not been completed. Members noted that utility work paid for without board approval could affect future rate analyses and asked for clearer guidelines.

The board scheduled a work session for Monday, March 17 at 5 p.m. to review quote and approval authority, procurement procedures, and which projects should be reimbursed or billed. Staff committed to providing documentation ahead of the work session.