Storm water board prioritizes Lions Park pipe lining, approves ERU tally and explores Riverside Drive grant

The Jasper Storm Water Management Board on June 8 approved routine minutes and claims, voted to accept five ERUs, and heard a department report that moved a large storm sewer lining at Lions Park up the priority list while staff sought details on a potential 80/20 grant for Riverside Drive.

Stormwater staff told the board that sinkholes and a fence sinking over a large metal storm pipe at Lions Park prompted an immediate shift in priorities. "We're going to move that project to the top of the list," the staff member said, describing the planned approach as a lining project rather than remove-and-replace. The repair approach would use welded wire fabric bolted inside the pipe, grouting where the pipe floor has eroded and shotcrete to form a structural liner; staff estimated the work could be in the $75,000–$100,000 range and described the pipe as roughly 8 feet in diameter. The speaker said the work would be bid out and noted National Gunite as an example of the type of contractor who does that work.

Why it matters: the pipe serves as critical storm infrastructure at a public park; staff said the deterioration has begun to show surface failures (sinkholes and a sinking fence), so delaying repairs could increase risk and future costs.

The board also voted to accept five ERUs as presented by staff for this month’s ERU calculations. The motion was made and seconded and "motion carries to approve the erus of five," according to the meeting record. The board approved minutes and claims for the period May 7–June 4, 2026; the transcripted claims total appears garbled (listed as "$24,2524") and the board reviewed itemized vendor charges for materials and sidewalk and storm-sewer work.

Staff reviewed active permitted construction sites: five sites over one acre remain open, and two permitted but not yet started sites were identified (Northridge Estates 2 and Arch Angel Edition). The Jasper substation, a city-permitted site, is moving toward notice-of-termination. Staff reported 4.33 inches of rain in May across three events and said that increased inspection activity on construction sites prompted follow-up work.

On enforcement and compliance, staff described an illicit-discharge investigation on 15th Street that produced bubbles suggestive of non-storm-water (possibly a washing machine). Letters to the property owner and legal-department follow-up are planned. Staff also reported a concrete-bag overflow at a site where multiple contractors used a single bag; both identified contractors have been notified.

Staff discussed outreach and compliance preparations: an ID audit is scheduled to begin Aug. 19 and staff completed outfall inspections and associated photo documentation. The department is planning an annual contractor workshop (tentatively Jan. 28, 2027) and will hire an outside presenter to help with training; staff emphasized efforts to improve attendance and suggested offering certification incentives.

On community education, staff highlighted annual school outreach (watershed presentations at Jasper Middle School), recent events (home expo, hospital event, Parkland activities) and a planned "Source to Sip" open-house booth on June 30. Those activities are part of the six minimum control measures for municipal stormwater programs.

Riverside Drive: staff said they had scheduled a Zoom meeting on June 10 at 1:30 p.m. with Nate Thomas of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources lakes-and-rivers program to determine grant scope and costs. The program discussed would be an 80/20 grant split; staff warned that project cost is unknown and that any grant application will require property-owner participation where the work would occur (the parcel in question was identified in the meeting as owned by Drew Eckert).

Votes at a glance

• Approval of May 11 minutes — motion made and seconded; motion carried (approved). (Motion text: "accept the minutes as presented")

• Approval of claims for May 7–June 4, 2026 — motion made and seconded; motion carried (approved). (Total listed in transcript appears garbled; itemized vendor charges were reviewed.)

• Acceptance of five ERUs for this month — motion made and seconded; motion carried (approved). (Motion text: "accept the five erus as presented")

• Adjournment — motion made and seconded; motion carried (approved).

What’s next: staff will solicit bids and cost estimates for the Lions Park lining project, follow up with legal and property owners on illicit-discharge cases, prepare materials for the Aug. 19 ID audit, and report back on the Riverside Drive grant meeting and any required property-owner commitments.

Quotes in this article are taken from meeting remarks attributed in the transcript to the storm water staff who presented the department report.