Municipalities are increasingly using flexible construction contracting methods to address infrastructure repairs while managing administrative requirements and public spending. St. John, Indiana, is using Job Order Contracting with F.H. Paschen to accelerate drainage and water infrastructure improvements.
The town has used the contracting approach for several projects, including replacement of more than one-eighth of a mile of stormwater piping in Schillton Hills. The work also included drainage inlet installation and neighborhood turf restoration.
In Parrish Woods, crews installed approximately 860 feet of stormwater pipe and seven drainage structures designed to improve drainage and reduce flooding.
F.H. Paschen also mobilized an emergency crew after hours to address a ruptured water service line on Patterson Street.
The work is being delivered through the OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing program. The Job Order Contracting model allows St. John to authorize maintenance and repair work as needs arise without initiating a separate lengthy administrative process for every project.
F.H. Paschen's Merrillville office is handling most installation and repair activities, with support from VS Engineering, Grimmer Construction, South Lake Stone, Ferguson Waterworks and P&C Trucking.
Field activities are coordinated with municipal staff to help maintain water and sewer services during construction. F.H. Paschen also uses local workforce and equipment resources to respond to emergency repair needs.
Flexible contracting can give municipalities another option for addressing recurring infrastructure maintenance and urgent repairs. St. John's use of Job Order Contracting illustrates how public agencies can combine cooperative procurement with local construction resources to move drainage and utility work forward while limiting administrative delays.
Source: F.H. Paschen.
