Lawrence City Manager Blog

2006-01-29T09:32:00.000-08:00

The Kaw Water Treatment Plant laboratory has a new look!

The original Kaw laboratory was built in 1954 and from that time until 2005, there were no major changes made to the laboratory, except the addition of several layers of paint applied on the cabinets. An upgrade was needed due to the deterioration that comes with the service time of 50 years.

Department staff completed a preliminary layout of a new lab in 1998 with the help of Black and Veatch. The estimated cost at that time for renovation was $110,510. Seven years later, staff embarked on the lab rehab project once again and the Kaw lab was remodeled and completed by early December 2005. The final price for the new look was approximately $88,000.

With the assistance of Finance Department staff and a State of Kansas discount contract, staff was able to save approximately $12,000 (30%) off the cabinetry list price. The selected vendor for the cabinetry was Fisher Hamilton. Lab cabinet installation was done by Hicks Ashby Company for no charge (also due to the State contract). All other demolition and construction (old cabinet and asbestos removal, flooring, ceiling, plumbing, electrical, painting, and HVAC) was managed by the low bidder, B.A. Green Construction Company. The overall project required the lab to be temporarily relocated during construction that took six weeks.
The Kaw laboratory is used by two divisions; Quality Control and Water Treatment. Water Quality Technicians conduct regulatory analyses and Plant Operators conduct the treatment process testing in the lab. This testing requires an average sampling regime of 10 drinking water parameters each day to ensure that the water is treated in accordance to EPA and KDHE regulations. The new lab is brighter, efficient and modernized with up to date electrical and plumbing fixtures along with HVAC. It is anticipated that more testing will be done in future years to stay in pace with the growth of Lawrence and future regulations. Dave Brewer, Water Quality Technican, is pictured in the photo.

2005-12-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

Lawrence, KS Holds NBP EMS Certification Celebration
On November 30, the City of Lawrence held a reception/open house to celebrate their Environmental Management System Certification from the National Biosolids Partnership, as well as EPA Clean Water Act Recognition awards in Operations and Maintenance and Biosolids Management. The event consisted of a presentation program, visual aids and displays stationed throughout for visitors to observe, tours of the facility, staff available to answer questions and demonstrate various equipment, and refreshments. The program included opening statements by Karl Mueldener, Director of Bureau of Water, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Dick Champion, Vice President of NACWA, presented the plaque to Mayor Boog Highberger and the NBP Seal of Approval Flag to Mike Wildgen, City Manager, and Jeanette Klamm, Residuals Coordinator. Matt Bond, WEF Director, spoke on behalf of WEF in congratulating the City of Lawrence on its accomplishments. Karen Flournoy, EPA Region 7 Associate Regional Administrator for Ag and Environmental Priorities, presented both EPA awards to Mayor Boog Highberger. Congressman Dennis Moore was present to speak for the closing of the program. Attendance was estimated to be approximately 100 vendors, stakeholders, elected officials, peers, and other interested parties to enjoy the festivities and show their support for the City's goals and programs. Lawrence, KS is the tenth wastewater agency in the nation to be NBP EMS certified. To learn more about the City of Lawrence, KS EMS program, visit: http://www.lawrenceutilities.org/Biosolids.shtml. (SJH)

2005-11-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

LEVEE SYSTEM VIEW

This is an aerial view of a portion of the Kansas River Levee system. It is about twelve miles long and runs from Mud Creek in Leavenworth County west to the old landfill northwest of the city. The levee system protects the area north of the river in the city and Grant Township. There is one pump that takes water that comes along the Maple Grove tributary and pumps it over the levee and into the Kansas River. The rest of the flow is by gravity. Flooding can occur when the river is high and there is significant rainfall behind the levee because the gates that allow the gravity flow to pass through the levee must be closed. This rarely happens but city crews monitor the gate system during major rainfall events.
The top of the levee is a well used recreational path for runners, pedistrians and bikers. East of N. 8th Street is an access for mountain bikers to the trails between the river and the levee. There is a lot of wildlife in this area and opportunity, close to the city, to get away from noise and traffic. Enjoy.

2005-11-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

November is a busy time of the year for the city's forestry crew.

Dozens of new trees will be planted this fall and we are making a special effort to add trees to the medians of Clinton Parkway and along 6th Street. While the heavily forested areas of the city are generally east of Iowa efforts now to increase the forest of our community will result in years of gorgeous color each fall. The tree shown here in front of City Hall was planted about 1980 and just keeps getting better and better each year. If you have an interest in planting a tree for the future consider a donation to the Friends of the Park for a tree to be planted in a park or in the right of way along a city street. Jim Beebe, city forester, can advise you on tree selection and species that thrive in Lawrence.

2005-10-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Fire Station 5 at 19th and Stewart Ave is under construction and within budget. Construction has been aided by dry weather this fall and progress is very apparent from 19th. This facility, when completed next summer, will also have space for the Fire/Medical administrative offices. The second fire station built in Lawrence, at 1839 Massachusetts, will close and those personnel and others in the downtown station will be housed in new Station 5. The city will be looking at the reuse of the old station on Mass next year. More on that later. The Kansas University Endowment Association is to be commended for donating this site to the city.

2005-10-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you would like to see a good example of a storm water project that was designed to protect nearby homes check out the work done this summer just north of Bob Billings Parkway and west of the Orchards Golf Course. Yankee Tank Creek had been eating away at the back yards of homes along the east side of Lawrence Avenue for a number of years. A stream bank stabilization project has installed a series of gabion baskets to reinforce the west side of the stram bank. Reinforced turf replaced the loose soil and native vegetation was planted.
The Storm Water Utility is also finishing up a large project north of 15th/Maryland that is the culmination of a series of storm water improvements in East Lawrence.

2005-10-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a chance to listen to one of the band concerts in South Park this past summer. Since at least the 1960's summer concerts on Wednesday nights have been fixtures in South Park. The are free and great evening treats for young and old. The city helps with funding and keeping the gazebo in great shape. This year a concert was also given for the City's 151st birthday was given in September.
Put a concert on your to-do list for July 2006!!

2005-10-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Being called at 4 am because of a serious fire is not something you can anticipate but it happens periodically. I received a call from Acting Chief Mark Bradford and found him and Capt Doug Green manning the control center at the fire.
It was an amazing scene with numerous firefighters, medics and police officers all doing a supurb job. The team work was evident and before the situation was under control other departments were also involved. Building Inspection quickly found the old files, for example, that showed the details of the 1965 construction. Private citizens and businesses helped the next day as recovery efforts started up. Many thanks to all those and the support groups on hand that helped the residents during this dreadful time.