Lafayette approves MOU with Tippecanoe County to fund Wea School Road improvements

The Lafayette City Board of Public Works and Safety approved a memorandum of understanding with Tippecanoe County to fund roadway restoration and improvements on Wea School Road tied to the city’s Service Area 11B sewer project.

City Engineer Jeremy Grenard told the board the city’s base sewer work was reduced by roughly $606,000 after discussions with the county about restoration; the MOU would provide that money to the county so it can hire its own contractor to widen and make safety improvements the county requested rather than the city performing a traditional restoration.

Board members asked whether the county had signed; staff said the board was approving the MOU first and the county had been amenable during negotiations. Grenard said the county work is contingent on the city finishing force main work from the lift station near the township trustee’s office and expected the county’s work to occur later this summer.

The board moved, seconded and approved the MOU by voice vote. The action cedes the restoration portion of the city project to the county in exchange for roughly $600,000 to be used for the county’s desired scope of work.