Utility board hears engineering update; Bracken booster and Gregory Street easements moving forward

The Water and Sewer Utility Board on February 2026 heard an engineering update covering street work, a booster-station project and easement work.

Speaker 1 opened the meeting and introduced the engineering update. Speaker 2, the staff member presenting the report, described crew progress on local street work — including work at 5th Street and the 3rd Lane line — and said crews are progressing through the intersection with Highway 25 toward the nearby school. He told the board that privately contracted work on Thompson Lane is continuing.

On the Bracken Booster Pumping Station, Speaker 2 said state review items are being finalized and indicated related components will be completed together: "So both of those will be done at the same time." He asked the board to review draft standard specifications and contractor protocols before staff forwards the documents to the state for approval.

Speaker 2 also reported staff are still working to secure easements on Gregory Street to complete needed construction and that architectural and engineering teams are advancing the water treatment plant design, with mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineers contributing to keep the overall schedule on track.

The board asked clarifying questions about a waterline near Palmston Lane by the middle school and staff clarified the line did not need to be moved. Staff and board members said they expect the February operating reports to show the effect of recent repairs.

The board took no separate vote on the engineering items during the discussion; staff sought direction to refine specs and then submit them to the state after board review.

The board deferred further engineering approvals pending the redline review requested by staff.