Trustees add Vernon Manor parking‑lot and drainage to county capital planning

Trustees reviewed drainage and parking‑lot problems at Vernon Manor and agreed to include the project in the county’s upcoming capital planning process to identify funding and timing.

Why it matters: drainage issues and a deteriorated parking surface affect campus operations and could require utility relocation; including the work in capital planning will allow the county to budget and coordinate with other infrastructure projects.

Details: Phil, the county highway commissioner, emailed that an underground drainage solution was not pursued previously because of funding and uncertainty about the site’s condition. Phil wrote that a storm sewer would be the appropriate remedy and estimated the work could take a week or two, weather permitting, but that short‑term excavations and utility interruptions are likely.

Trustees were also alerted to a potential future water‑main relocation beneath the parking area; county staff said it would be least costly to coordinate a new parking surface with any required pipeline work so the lot is not re‑excavated soon after paving. The meeting packet included an older estimate from the firm Mathy; trustees were told an updated quote is necessary because the existing estimate is about 18 months old.

County staff (Cassie) said the parking lot and drainage project will be entered into the county’s capital plan and that, if included, the earliest it could be funded under the planned calendar would be the 2026 budget year. Buildings and facilities will be involved in project scoping and funding identification.

Next steps: staff will include the Vernon Manor parking‑lot and drainage needs in the capital planning schedule, obtain updated cost estimates, and evaluate coordination needs for the water pipeline and other underground utilities.