Council approves $12,129 design contract for South Fork Road drainage improvements

The Blair City Council approved an engineering agreement with Houston Engineering Inc. for $12,129 to design drainage improvements for the Blair South Fork Road area following a heavy rain event that overwhelmed local storm systems. Aaron Heaton, who presented the item, said the engineering work will enable city crews to perform earthwork and targeted cuts to a berm so backyard stormwater can reach the creek rather than back up into basements.

"The total on that is $12,129 to do some design work that then our public works guys could go in and actually do the dirt work to make some adjustments on each end of the property," Heaton said. He outlined options including trimming berms in specific spots and noted FEMA questions about work on private property; Heaton said the plan tries to use economical public-works fixes rather than very costly street reconstruction.

Residents described prior basement flooding and debris in the creek. "It just makes me nervous because I know that's what caused the clog if we got a big rain," Joy Peterson said of brush and debris in the creek. The Water & Sewer committee recommended the contract; the council approved Resolution 2026‑084 to engage Houston Engineering for the design work.

Staff said the relatively modest design cost is intended to reduce the need for far more expensive street reconstruction (estimated in the hundreds of thousands) and to create designs city crews can implement.