Lawrence City utility board approves 2026 budgets, salary resolution and $1.82M pipe contract

The Utility Service Board of the City of Lawrence on April 14 approved the utilities' 2026 water and sewer budgets, a resolution establishing employee salaries and wages for 2026, and a $1,822,135 notice of award for an I&I removal contract, after a presentation by municipal advisor Andre Riley.

Riley, principal with Baker Tilly, told board members the water utility’s finances remain “pretty sound,” noting staff used three-year trend analysis and year-to-date figures to align revenues with expenditures and to maintain reserves for capital work and debt service. He said no rate adjustments were included in the proposed 2026 budgets. “Everything seems to be sound,” Riley said, commending utility staff for managing operations and reserves.

On the sewer side, Riley highlighted an expected increase in treatment costs under the utility’s purchase-of-treatment contract with Citizens Energy Group, saying treatment expense projections rise “from 4.7 up to 5.6 million,” and urging continued monitoring. The board did not adopt new rates during the meeting.

After the presentation, the board approved a series of agenda items by voice vote. The board awarded the 46th Street and Post Road I&I removal project to SLB Pipe Solutions LLC as the lowest responsive bidder at $1,822,135. It also approved amendment number three to the professional services agreement with Clark Dietz Incorporated for up to $4,000 for additional inspection services on the Shaffner Road work and separately approved a motion to increase the Fort Harrison sanitary improvement project (phase three) to $485,980.

The board adopted Resolution No. 1, 2026, concerning the water and sewer utility budgets, and Resolution No. 2, 2026, establishing salaries and wages of Lawrence City water and wastewater utility employees for 2026. The meeting record shows each motion carried by voice vote of the three members present.

Staff also presented three sanitary sewer account adjustments tied to service-line and spigot leaks: $476.83 for 10560 Kenzel Street, $800.34 for 7665 East 52nd Street, and $1,507.92 for 7741 Blackthorn Drive; the board approved all three adjustments.

The board approved the annual Orange Utilities Identity Theft Prevention (Red Flag) report for April 2025–April 2026, which staff said contained isolated attempts by non-account holders to obtain account information that were resolved after staff explained utility policies; no incidents of compromised customer information were reported and the business office manager recommended no policy changes.

No members of the public spoke during the meeting. The board adjourned after completing the agenda.

What’s next: The board approved the 2026 budget and related personnel resolutions and directed staff to continue monitoring treatment costs and other budget pressures; no further hearings or rate changes were scheduled at this meeting.