Consultants present planning‑level $1.95M utility estimate, warn lift station is largest cost

Wesler engineers presented a planning‑level engineering memo to the Kentland Town Council that analyzed what it would take to extend the town’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems to serve a proposed 40–80 acre residential development.

The consultant said the study did not include detailed hydraulic modeling or flow monitoring but used existing maps, staff hydrant tests and a planning‑level review to identify likely improvements and order‑of‑magnitude costs. The memo describes wastewater recommendations first, followed by drinking water and stormwater improvements.

Wesler noted the town’s nearest gravity sewer runs along Graham Street and ties into the town’s primary trunk sewer and wastewater treatment plant. The firm reported the treatment plant’s situation and flagged significant wet‑weather inflow as a design concern that should be investigated further before final design. According to the presentation, the plant can handle the estimated additional average flows from the initial phase, but wet‑weather peaks (described in the memo as roughly 1.2 million gallons per day during storms) require further study.

The consultant said a new lift station at the site’s northeast corner would be needed because existing downstream collection points sit too high to accept gravity flows. "You need some form of pumping — a lift station — to pump wastewater flows from this development to get into your existing collection system," the Wesler representative said. The engineering team emphasized that pumps could be upsized later to serve future development, but the lift station’s wet wells and generator housing are the single largest cost components.

Wesler presented preliminary costs in Appendix B: wastewater improvements (with a 25% contingency) are in the ballpark of $1.25 million, water‑system improvements roughly $500,000 and stormwater‑related outfalls/ditch work about $100,000; the memo’s overall planning‑level construction estimate is about $1.95 million. The consultant underscored that these are conservative, planning‑level numbers and that detailed design and hydraulic modeling could change specific line items and phasing decisions.

On water distribution the team reported the town’s three wells and storage provide spare capacity for the initial development; hydrant testing, however, found a section of 4‑inch main on Graham Street with limited firefighting flow and pressure. Wesler recommended hydraulic modeling to confirm whether upsizing to 6‑inch or installing looped mains is necessary to meet domestic and firefighting standards.

For stormwater the study recommended holding the 100‑year post‑development discharge to the site’s pre‑development 100‑year rate, citing an on‑site detention example of roughly three acre‑feet (presented as a one‑foot average over three acres) and noting a long conveyance distance to the nearest open ditch/Bridgeman tile outlet. The consultants suggested site detention could be designed as a park amenity and that two‑stage ditch improvements or ditch maintenance could reduce on‑site detention needs.

Council members asked about phasing, easements to cross private parcels, and whether the town’s existing, underused lift station might be reused; Wesler advised that elevation differentials likely preclude a gravity tie and that detailed elevation checks and a hydraulic analysis would be needed to evaluate reuse of existing facilities.

The council directed staff to pursue follow‑up engineering work and funding discussions and to return with more detailed modeling and cost refinement at a future meeting.