State waives costly filter; Brookville sidewalk plan simplified, manager says it saves about $100,000

The village manager told the council Dec. 11 that the State Highway Administration has amended the Brookville sidewalk stormwater concept plan to allow a simpler design the county will approve, removing a previously required, oversized filtration device. "As of today, the State Highway Administration has amended our stormwater concept plan so that the county will approve it," Manager Michael Suleman said. He said the waiver removes the need to install an intensive filter that would have cost tens of thousands of dollars and carried a long lead time.

Staff estimated the simplified approach saves roughly $100,000 and avoids ordering a custom $80,000 filter with an estimated 16-week delivery. The manager said the county had regarded the prior filter requirement as "overkill" for a sidewalk project and that staff held a preconstruction meeting with the state and contractors; sediment-control permitting and other approvals remain in progress.

Councilors asked about schedule implications; the manager said concrete work cannot proceed when temperatures are under about 35°F and that weather constraints and permit turnaround will determine start dates. He also committed to weekly project updates for interested residents and to provide at least one-week notice before work affecting the public right-of-way.

Next steps: staff will await the official signed waiver from the state and proceed with county sediment-control permits and preconstruction activities; contractors are ordering long-lead items and preparing to mobilize once permits and weather allow.