The Hobart Stormwater/Sanitary District Board approved engineering design proposals Tuesday for drainage projects covering the Barrington Ridge and Shelby Street areas.
City Attorney Anthony DeBonis will draw up contracts for both projects and the board is expected to approve them at its next meeting, on March 8.
Robinson Engineering will be awarded the contract for the Barrington work, at a proposed amount of $24,261.
The project includes installation of a storm sewer along South Hobart Road, which board president Bob Fulton said will provide water relief for the entire Barrington community, located at 61st Avenue, between Old Hobart Road to the east and Indiana 51 to the west.
He said currently all the water from the various Barrington areas drain to one point on Old Hobart Road, which doesn’t meet the need.
“We’ve been battling this problem for years, to keep Barrington dry,” Fulton said.
Board member David Hill questioned what the board was asking for in its request for proposals, noting that Robinson’s proposal didn’t include the same scope of work that the other two proposals did.
James Mandon, with Robinson, said the firm knew that the sewer had already been designed as part of the master plan and didn’t include that part in its proposal.
“The preliminary design work other companies were charging us for was already done,” Fulton said.
The board approved the proposal for the Shelby Street design work submitted by Abonmarche Engineering at a cost of $13,300 plus an additional $3,500 for Geotech.
Fulton said Abonmarche’s proposal was almost half of the next lowest amount.
City engineer Phil Gralik recommended the board accept the Abonmarche proposal, pointing out the low cost and the fact that they have an office in Hobart.
The Shelby Street project will include the installation of storm sewers and will fix drainage problems in the Liberty Heights subdivision at Ind. 51 near Rand Street, and the neighboring Shelby and High street areas.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
