Lawrenceburg conservancy seeks roughly $70M in grants to replace relief wells, asks council for nonbinding support

Representatives of the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District (LCD) outlined a multi-part, multi-year proposal Jan. 21 that would replace aging relief wells in the Lawrenceburg levee system, address a sinkhole and freeboard concerns in the Greendale sub-district, and seek federal grant funding to cover the majority of the work.

The scope and ask: LCD and its engineering team described a package that currently totals roughly $70 million: a Lawrenceburg-focused levee and relief-well project the presenters estimated at about $30 million and a Greendale pump-station and related work estimated at about $40 million. LCD said those are engineer estimates for 2025 and include contingency and inflation assumptions. The conservancy reported it has engaged a professional grant team (JMT) and said it has a resolution committing to a 25% local match shared among Lawrenceburg, Greendale, LCD and the county; that match was described as roughly the mid- to high-single-digit millions (presenters stated the match figure as "about 17 [million]," as read in the meeting).

Why it matters: speakers tied the grant effort to the broader objective of keeping the levee provisionally accredited and eventually fully certified by a licensed certifying engineer, then accepted by FEMA. Panelists warned that if the levee loses accreditation, local building permits and development could be affected; speakers said the work is essential for long-term flood protection for residents and downtown properties.

Grant targets and timeline: presenters said they are aiming for a large federal resilience grant (described in the meeting as a "Bridal" grant), and have not limited the effort to a single program. They said the target application window would be January 2026 with funding decisions likely the following year. The LCD also said its internal schedule anticipates working through reviews and permits with a July 2027 milestone referenced for some aspects of the process. The conservancy has hired JMT as grant-writers and will host a public community outreach session (a drop-in meeting) featuring the grant team and engineers.

Local commitments and contingencies: presenters asked only for a show of support at the Jan. 21 meeting and said they were not requesting an immediate cash commitment. They asked the council to consider a resolution (contingent on actual award) and to provide letters of support and help with political contacts for state/federal elected officials. Paul (LCD representative) told council members he would provide the draft resolution language and supporting packet. LCD staff said if the grant is not awarded, fallback options would include phased, multiyear replacement of wells funded from existing budgets, and that the council and community would need to consider other local funding if federal funds are not secured.

Costs, maintenance and operations: speakers said relief wells are old (about 85 years in places) and that work will include abandoning certain wells per Corps requirements and installing a smaller set of new wells; LCD said a design has been prepared that could replace the existing inventory with roughly half the number of newer wells. Presenters said a maintenance and monitoring agreement exists and that long-term maintenance costs will continue; they did not provide an annual maintenance estimate but said costs will vary year to year and depend on weather and wear.

Next steps: LCD said it will deliver the finalized resolution language and grant packet to council staff; JMT will prepare the application materials and the conservancy will seek letters of support. Council members were told the application is expected in January 2026 and that funding, if awarded, could be several years out. LCD asked for the council to review the resolution when it is circulated and to return questions or support in subsequent sessions.