Redevelopment commission approves $34,200 in design fees to study Main Street drainage under railroad

The Mooresville Redevelopment Commission approved an amendment to its contract with Banning Engineering to fund preliminary engineering and design work for a drainage solution at the east end of the Main Street project.

The amendment, approved by voice vote at the meeting, includes a $9,200 fixed-fee topographic survey and a $25,000 fixed-fee engineering design. Permitting and railroad coordination will be billed hourly because the length of time required to obtain railroad approval is unknown, commission members were told.

Town staff described the drainage problem as shallow stormwater conveyance near the Circle K site; the proposed long-term fix would bore a pipe under the railroad and route flow along Madison Street to Harrison Street. The design calls for a bore about 5.5 feet in diameter to reach the outfall at Harrison, according to staff. If the railroad approves, the commission would accept the alternate (the long-term fix) in the construction contract; the base contract will contain a lesser, short-term fix.

Banning Engineering has begun preliminary conversations with the railroad, and Mike McCreery of Banning provided construction-observation services on other town projects, staff said. Street department staff (Brian Moore and a staff member identified as Red) told commissioners they prefer the longer-term solution despite added cost because the area already shows recurring problems.

The commission also received a schedule update: bids for the Main Street project have been downloaded by 11 prospective bidders, 6 firms participated in a voluntary pre-bid meeting, and the bid opening is scheduled for Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.; the commission expects to consider a contract award at its Feb. 6 regular meeting after Banning reviews bids for compliance.

The amendment passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded on the transcript.