Council approves $8,300 sinkhole repair; staff to inspect pipe condition

Burns Harbor officials approved a $8,300 quote from RV Sutton Inc. to repair a sinkhole near a town roadway and authorized the payment from the CCD miscellaneous-services line. Council members discussed that the quote covered a spot repair (“fix the hole”) but not full pipe replacement or downstream repairs. Public-works staff said they planned to run a camera in both directions to assess the buried pipe; if the camera shows additional collapse, the town may need follow-up quotes for longer repairs. Why it matters: the sinkhole sits over a collapsed section of plastic pipe and, according to staff, the pipe collapse caused the surface failure. The approved repair is intended to restore roadway safety and access quickly, with the town acknowledging the repair may be a partial solution until the pipe condition is fully assessed. Decision and funding: Councilmember motioned and seconded to approve the RV Sutton Inc. quote for $8,300; the motion passed on roll call and staff were directed to proceed and report back with inspection findings and any additional quotes needed. Operational context: staff reported limited contractor responses during procurement (Sutton was the sole respondent after multiple outreach attempts), and that outstanding unpaid invoices to some vendors may be affecting vendor responsiveness. Ending: The town will authorize the immediate, localized repair and follow up with a camera inspection to determine whether additional excavation or more extensive pipe replacement is required.