Lawrenceburg approves CCMG road bid, forwards easements to council and clears utility claims; council to schedule UDO work session

Lawrenceburg elected officials on Feb. 18 approved a seasonal road-repair contract, moved a package of easement documents to the City Council for final action, and cleared several utility and city claims and payrolls while flagging internal policy questions about employee reimbursements and budget offsets.

The Board of Works unanimously approved the CCMG 2024-2 project bid award, the board president said, with work expected to begin in spring after asphalt plants reopen and billing begins later in the season. The board noted a pending state proposal that could reduce local match requirements for communities with populations under 10,000 from 25% to 20% and said they would watch how that bill evolves.

City Attorney Dale Weldon said the Hill and "Saint E" easement documents are the same easements recorded on the plat previously approved by the Advisory Planning Commission and City Council and that the county asked for the city's reaffirmation because the easements are individually signed by multiple parties. "These are the same easements that were contained in the plat that Advisory Planning Commission and City Council have already approved," Weldon said. The Board of Works voted to send the easement package to City Council with a favorable recommendation.

At the Utility Board meeting the board approved claims and payroll. Board members discussed claim number 423886, a Short Street utility boring, which exceeded the original low quote of $41,750 after a change order. "I looked into that and there was a $2,500 change order; it looks like they found concrete when they got ready to start that job," a board member said, and the board approved the higher amount as presented.

Utility Board members pressed staff to bring future change orders to the board before payment. The board also approved payroll reports and checks once properly certified.

During the City Council meeting members approved two donation-committee recommendations and a Signarama proposal alteration for historic marker signs. Councilor Tommy (last name on record) told colleagues that Signarama identified a vendor able to repair the base of the governor's historical sign for an additional $1,500 while crediting fabrication costs from the original quote; the council approved the change.

Councilors also discussed planning items. Several members said they wanted a dedicated work session on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and on CCD (a development/organizational item discussed by the council). The mayor asked the administration to arrange a work session with the UDO authors and to offer one-on-one time for councilors beforehand so members could raise specific concerns.

Members raised several budget and policy matters in public discussion. City staff reported that utility reimbursements exceeded the line-item appropriation for the period and that the overrun was covered from the rainy-day account; staff said they will review the line item and discuss whether additional appropriations are needed during the next budget review. On employee reimbursements, councilors discussed recent claims for boot purchases paid on employees' personal cards that included sales tax. The mayor noted the city's practice is to "make them whole" for purchases made on the city's behalf and that the administration would consider directing employees to a tax-exempt vendor (one councilor suggested Boot Country) to avoid future tax reimbursements.

Votes at a glance

- Board of Works: Approve CCMG 2024-2 project bid award — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye"). - Board of Works: Forward Hill and Saint E easement documents to City Council with a favorable recommendation — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye"). - Utility Board: Approve claims (including claim 423886 Short Street boring with a $2,500 change order) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye"). - Utility Board: Approve payroll reports and checks once properly certified — outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye"). - City Council: Approve donation committee recommendations — outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye"). - City Council: Approve change to historical marker sign work (additional $1,500 repair credited against fabrication) — outcome: approved (voice vote: unanimous "Aye").

What this means

The approved CCMG bid advances the city's seasonal street work pipeline and the easement package formalizes access rights that underlay utility and telecommunications infrastructure in the Hill/Saint Elizabeth area. Board and council discussion signaled a desire for clearer internal controls on change orders and reimbursements and for a forthcoming work session so councilors can revisit UDO language and CCD-related materials.

Next steps

City staff will place the easement package on the City Council agenda for final action, schedule the UDO work session with the ordinance authors and planning commission representatives, and report back on the utility appropriation and reimbursement policy during the next budget preparation cycle.