HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to spend nearly $1 million for engineering services on a major drainage project involving Cow Creek.

The action came during Tuesday’s agenda session as part of the city’s Storm Water Master Plan to improve drainage along Cow Creek.

The proposed project would include widening of the channel along with work on various bridges that flow over it. However, this plan is subject to change. As proposed, the plan includes several railroad bridges on South Plum. The total cost of the project is approximately $12 million.

Work will include possible design modifications to four bridges, relocation of utilities and negotiations with Union Pacific Railroad for work in and around the railroad’s right-of-way.

If all goes as planned, work could begin in March of next year with completion by February of 2021.

The council approved the bid from Wood Environment and Infrastructure at a cost of $998,640.

Funding for the project will come from the storm water utility fee.

The council also set an Aug. 6 date for a public hearing on the proposed tax incentive package for GEO Chemicals, LLC.

GEO Chemicals plans to begin operation of a manufacturing and storage facility for chemicals used in the oil and gas industry. The company will use a building it purchased at the old Consolidated property near 17th and Halstead. GEO Chemicals plans to build an adjacent 10,000-square-foot building at a cost around $400,000.

Once the company begins, officials say they expect to add 50 new jobs the first year with plans to create 200 or more jobs over the next 10 years.

At some point, the company also wants to build a new facility in the Enterprise Industrial Park.

As far as tax abatement, the company wants 100% abatement over 10 years, but the city wants to start off with an abatement of 95% the first year and then decrease over the 10-year span.

The final decision will come after a public hearing on Aug. 6.