The Warrenton Board of Aldermen this month approved engineering projects to plan stormwater improvements on two residential streets. The engineering will cost an estimated $106,000.Aldermen on Oct. 1 approved contracts with the engineering firm Cochran to create plans for stormwater drainage construction on Steinhagen Road and McKinley Avenue south of Flora Avenue. Individually, the engineering will cost $50,600 for Steinhagen Road and $55,850 for McKinley Avenue, Public Works Director Guy Gevers told the board. Both of those amounts are slightly under what the city has budgeted for the engineering.City officials have been discussing stormwater improvements in that area of the city for multiple years.As the engineer, Cochran will draft construction plans for the work, including the necessary topographic surveying. The projects will include storm sewer construction on both sides of each street, according to the contract documents.Part of creating those plans includes compiling information about what easements will be needed for construction and permanent drainage features. About 70 properties will be included in the project areas, according to Cochran.The plans will accommodate potential future improvements such as curbs or sidewalks, but those features aren’t currently included in the engineering contracts.Gevers said the engineering should be completed in time to have cost estimates included in the city’s 2020-2021 budget. That means the planning will be done within the next few months, but actual construction wouldn’t begin until at earliest the second half of 2020, and possibly later. There won’t be a firm starting time until the engineering is completed, city officials said.Once construction begins, Cochran’s contracts include acting as the project administrator. Essentially, Cochran would act as the city’s advocate in monitoring the quality, cost and project schedule of the construction contractors.“I think some of this (work) is long overdue and I’m glad the city is putting in effort to get this done,” said Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch. “I think the residents there will appreciate it.”The Cochran Engineering contracts were approved 5-0, with Ward 1 Alderman Cheryl Dyer absent.Warrenton city hall sign