Lawrence City board approves $3,000 emergency response plan contract, clears four sewer billing adjustments

The Lawrence City Utility Board on Jan. 20 approved task order No. 27 to hire an engineering firm to produce an emergency response plan and related ERP documents for the Lawrence Water Works, with a contract limit of not to exceed $3,000. Utility Superintendent (Speaker 4) said the plan is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency if the utility wants to qualify for State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding.

Why it matters: The emergency response plan is tied to compliance under an Administrative Order on Consent and is a condition for certain state and federal loan or grant funding. Utility staff said preparing the plan is a standard step to keep the utility eligible for SRF programs.

The utility superintendent told the board, "The utilities are seeking approval of task order number 27 with Western Engineering as part of the on call engineering services for the development of a ERP and emergency response plan ... not to exceed $3,000." He added, "We have to have an emergency response plan. We have to have these documents so that we can qualify for SRF money for different projects." The transcript also references the firm name as "Wessler Engineering" in later agenda language; the difference in spelling is noted in the record.

Board members moved and seconded the measure and approved it by roll-call/voice vote. The board also approved a request to postpone the election of the board chair and co-chair until the next meeting; the postponement motion was moved by Board Member (Speaker 3), seconded by Board Member (Speaker 2), and carried by voice vote.

In follow-up business the board approved four sanitary sewer billing adjustments after staff explanation of the causes: a $770.39 adjustment for 7373 Parkside Drive due to a service leak; a $745.30 adjustment for 9747 East 46th Street due to a service line leak; a $1,077.00 adjustment for 4600 N. Elmhurst Dr. (noted as exceeding the board's $1,000 approval threshold and explained to members); and a $726.98 adjustment for 8430 Somerville (listed in the packet) due to a slab leak. For the Elmhurst address staff explained why the variance exceeded the typical $1,000 threshold before members approved the adjustment.

The presiding member also noted a remonstration regarding a ratepayer dispute about a disconnect; the transcript records the remonstration being acknowledged but no formal action or public comment followed. The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn was approved.

Procedural notes: Utility staff said they are working with Baker Tilly to complete the 2026 water and sewer utility budget and plan to invite a representative from American Structure Point to a February meeting to present a status update on the corrective action plan and the Administrative Order on Consent.

Next steps: The board postponed officer elections until the next meeting; staff will proceed with procurement/actions tied to Task Order No. 27 and continue coordination on the 2026 budget and EPA corrective actions.