Paoli council approves Task Order, advances lead service-line planning and updates culvert timeline

The Paoli Town Council on Jan. 21 authorized work to move forward on several infrastructure projects, approving a $45,000 Task Order for coordination and bidding on the US 150 Culvert-Utility Relocation Project and greenlighting completion of an Asset Management Plan needed to pursue lead service-line replacement grant funding.

Eric Parsley of Commonwealth Engineers told the council the Water Project is paused for winter and will restart in spring 2025; the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission secured a grant modification that extends the project's completion date to June 30, 2025. Parsley said the town's Phase 1 lead replacement is estimated at $2.7 million and that the state grant application deadline is April 1, 2025. Because an Asset Management Plan is required before applying, Commonwealth offered to prepare the plan at an hourly rate not to exceed $20,000, which the council approved unanimously.

On the US 150 Culvert-Utility Relocation Project, Parsley presented a total Paoli utility relocation cost estimate of $500,980.00, with INDOT approving reimbursement of $362,212.06 and the town responsible for $138,767.94. The council approved an Extraordinary Cost Agreement and Task Order 2025-01 for $45,000 to complete coordination, bidding and construction-phase services and authorized Council President Bobbie Bostock to sign the agreement; the motion passed 5-0.

Parsley also noted the town received an Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Indiana for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant; a recognition ceremony is scheduled in April in Indianapolis.

The approvals position Paoli to apply for federal or state lead-service-line funding after the Asset Management Plan is completed, and to move into bidding for the INDOT-reimbursed utility relocation work once coordination and procurement steps are complete.