Contractor pitches pump-and-pipe alternative as cheaper option for Pulaski County drainage project

A county-contracted presenter told Pulaski County officials that a mechanical pump station paired with HDP fusion pipe could be a lower-cost alternative to the full gravity-tile drainage project described in a single responsive bid.

The presenter said the county could install a relatively small pump station to force stormwater to the river, bury fusion pipe (examples cited from prior work in Jasper County), and eliminate several large, expensive 60-inch structures. He estimated ballpark costs: about $150 per foot for large-diameter pipe in some sections, pipe-material costs lower (example: $50 per foot cited), and pump costs that could run in the tens of thousands of dollars for reliable units. He gave an example of installing 7 miles of fusion pipe in Jasper County for about $1.5 million.

Commissioners pressed the presenter on performance trade-offs. Officials noted that gravity drainage operates continuously and would likely move water offsite faster during storms, while a pump solution might allow some ponding until the pumps engage and ramp up. Commissioners expressed concern about the public reaction if businesses such as Casey's continue to experience ponding after a lower-cost option is installed.

The board asked staff to obtain a high-level estimate of a pump solution ("investigate the pump") and to present both the pump alternative and the full gravity-tile estimate to the public at the April 20 hearing so residents can weigh costs against performance.

No decision was made to favor one option; commissioners directed staff to include clear comparisons of upfront cost, expected maintenance, likely performance in storm events, and funding implications for each alternative.