Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to spend nearly $300,000 to come up with a new plan that details improvements needed for the city’s sewer system.

Commissioners agreed to a $297,883 contract with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company to create a new wastewater master plan for the community.

The plan will develop several growth scenarios for the city, and will spell out what type of improvements would be needed to the sewer system to meet those scenarios. Specifically, the plan also will include an analysis of when the city needs to begin construction of a new $80 million sewer treatment plant south of the Wakarusa River.

The plan also will provide the city with guidelines on when certain parts of the existing sewer system needs to be replaced or upgraded.

Commissioners approved the contract on a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Mike Dever absent from the meeting.