The Town of St. John has partnered with F.H. Paschen to save time and taxpayer dollars through an on-demand cooperative purchasing model.

Drainage and water main repairs are addressed without lengthy approval processes through the OMNIA Partners program using job order contracting.

Road salt and fleet fuel already are cooperatively purchased.

“Through the job order contracting process, St. John has been able to complete multiple projects in a short time,” said Gabe Hernandez, director of St. John's public works, in a press release. “While job order contracting is not always the answer for all projects, it is a very useful option for municipalities to have.”

F.H. Paschen also helps in the planning process.

“They have suggested different ideas for projects that saved the town money,” Hernandez said. “They give honest opinions on what is or what is not needed for the project.”

F.H. Paschen's Merrillville office directly handles most of the installation and repair work, but they also rely on local subcontractors and supplier. VS Engineering, Grimmer Construction, South Lake Stone, Ferguson Waterworks and P&C Trucking are some of F.H. Paschen's partners.

The model also helps prevent water and sewer disruptions because F.H. Paschen repair crews and equipment are available to quickly respond.

“This relationship is built on direct communication and following through on commitments,” said Jordan Falls, project manager at F.H. Paschen. “The town knows what to expect from our crews, and our team knows how to get equipment moving quickly.”

F.H. Paschen has offered job order contracting for almost 40 years. The construction company opened a Merrillville office in October 2025. It's other offices are in Lafayette and South Bend.