County engineer briefs board on upsizing pipe for Kate Lee drain; coordination with Crider & Crider and Hendricks Power flagged

Hendricks County Engineer John Ayers updated the Drainage Board on a requested revision to upsize pipe from 15 inches to 24 inches for the Kate Lee section of the Ronald Reagan Parkway project. Ayers presented grade information and drawings showing the proposed alignment from Maloney Road south along County Road 900 East to the southern crossing of the legal drain. He said project staff met on site with contractor Crider & Crider and that the contractor had concerns about working around utility poles; Ayers cautioned that coordination with Hendricks Power could increase costs.

President Bob Gentry asked Member Michael Hession to speak with a contractor about whether the work could be done with a wheel machine instead of a conventional excavator to limit impacts. Ayers said the project must remain under the control of Crider & Crider because it is part of the overall Parkway project and that Crider & Crider had completed upstream and downstream work. County Surveyor David Gaston and Ayers clarified that perforated tile would not be used for the section because it could allow water to seep through rather than moving surface water to the Batz regulated drain; Ayers confirmed solid pipe will be used. The board asked that Members Hession and Maloney meet with Crider & Crider and include Ayers in follow-up discussions; Ayers said he will report back at the next Drainage Board meeting.