The need for underground storm pipes, instead of above ground, on Walnut Street at Oklahoma Avenue increased the phase one cost of Hennessey’s west side drainage project by $32,539.77 for a total of $211,145.52.

Hennessey’s Board of Trustees approved the change order in a special meeting at Town Hall Thursday. It was the only item on the agenda.

“There wasn’t enough room to install above-ground pipes,” said Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman after after the meeting.

The problem was on the east side of Abel Moreno’s home on Oklahoma Ave. across the street south of the Eagle Event Center, she said.

The project runs south on Walnut Street from Oklahoma Avenue to First Street.

David Fuksa of Gradework Construction asked for the change because “it was too narrow, and not enough room” for the above ground pipes, Tillman said during a phone interview with the Times & Free Press.

“It would have made the ditch too steep, and there wouldn’t have been enough room to mow,” she said.

Cowan Group is the engineer on the project, and Young Contracting, Okla, City won the original bid of $178,605.75 in December.

The town has a $65,098.33 REAP grant to help fund the project and recently paid NODA $1,680 for administrative work.

Trustees attending the meeting were Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Keith Meek and Richard Simunek. Absent were Mayor Bert Gritz and Trustee Wes Hardin. Others present were Clerk Kati Walter and Tillman.

Phase 2 of the drainage project will be on Third, Fourth and Fifth streets west of Mitchell Rd. No funding has been approved.

Both projects were originally estimated to cost about $300,000.