Council Asked About Sewer Delays

The Speedway Town Council agreed to inquire why HNTB Gordon Evans is not providing the necessary information to move drainage projects forward. Gerrard Avenue residents made their frustration known at the April 19 Storm Water Drainage Board meeting. These complaints apparently seeped into the ears of Councilman Jeff Hartman and Councilor Lu Hillmer.

Hartman raised the issue that Evans is not responsive to drainage issues and the street department is developing the drainage solutions. “The ball has definitely stopped,” Hartman said.

Hartman was frustrated that surveying has not started for the 2000 block of Gerrard Avenue. Hartman disagrees with Evans speculation that it is homeowners’ problem. He said he is relying on plumbers’ information instead of using his own engineering knowledge.

Council President Bill Golay rallied in defense of Evans who was not present at the meeting, Golay said the proposed project to capture more storm water at Lynhurst and 22nd Street has taken priority to see if that would bring relief to the 2000 block of Gerrard Avenue. Even if the surveying work was done, the plans to move the storm water into the pipes at 20th Street would not be implemented until the storm water board sees the benefit of additional inlets added at 22nd and Lynhurst Drive and Woolco Lane.

Jeff Hartman wanted to know why the solution was not implemented earlier.

Golay said it takes time to observe rain events and the street department does not have cameras to observe storm water flowing down the streets.

Although the street department does not have evidence that Gerrard Avenue’s combined sewer pipes are filled to capacity during heavy rains, “it doesn’t mean there is not something going on that requires our attention. It means there is no data showing it is the sanitary sewer causing the backup,” he said.

Hillmer indicated the council did not have problems HNTB the company, but the council had issues with Evans. At the May 14 council meeting, HNTB Vice President Roger Ward announced that Thomas Hutka would serve as the town’s engineer, not Evans.