Lawrence city commissioners want another North Lawrence drainage study. All they have to do is find the money to pay for it.

Commissioners Tuesday night directed Chad Voigt, the city’s stormwater engineer, to determine final costs for conducting the study and coming up with an improvement plan. Voigt already has estimated the cost could be as high as $225,000.

Later this year, commissioners will review finances to see if money is available to pay for the study after receiving bids in April for other capital improvement projects planned for the city.

If the money is not there, a “shifting of priorities” may be needed, Commissioner David Dunfield said.

Although there have been several similar studies conducted in North Lawrence dating to the 1960s, a new one should take into consideration potential developments in North Lawrence and how a drainage system will be maintained, Voigt said.

North Lawrence is in the Kansas River floodplain and always will be at risk of a catastrophic flood, Voigt said.

“That will happen some day,” he said.

A more frequent problem, however, is flooding from stormwater runoff, he said. Existing drainage systems such as ditches and culverts were built before the area was annexed by the city, require high level of maintenance and are often inadequate, Voigt said.

Ted Boyle, president of the North Lawrence Improvement Assn., agreed. He asked commissioners to approve the study.

“We’re not particularly concerned about the river,” Boyle said. “The problem is water runoff. We need to protect the established residences.”