Melbourne Beach approves $20,000 emergency repair for stormwater pipe under Riverside Drive

The Melbourne Beach Town Commission on March 31 approved up to $20,000 to open and repair a stormwater pipe that runs under Riverside Drive at Avenue A after public works crews found a sinkhole that exposed the pipe, Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro said.

Mascaro told commissioners that a resident reported a sinkhole last week. Public works probes reportedly went four to five feet into the opening and found the pipe shifted off-center; crews could see through to the other side, she said. The town contacted Scott Gloggins of VSNA and Brewer Paving, which has done most of the town's stormwater work in recent years, and Brewer agreed to bring a crew and metal plate to secure the hole and open the roadway for inspection.

The town manager said Brewer provided an initial cost estimate ranging from about $5,000 to $15,000 but warned the total could be higher once the pipe and roadway are exposed; she also said an unusually large scenario could approach $30,000. Because the exact repairs cannot be determined until the road is opened, Mascaro asked the commission for an emergency authorization with a not‑to‑exceed amount and a commitment that the contractor would return to the commission if work would exceed that limit.

Commissioner Tim Reed moved to approve $20,000 for the repair; another commissioner seconded the motion. The approval was made by voice vote. The motion directs town staff to allow Brewer Paving to open the roadway, assess and repair the pipe and repave the surface up to the approved amount; if the contractor’s cost estimate exceeds the limit, staff will return to the commission for further action.

Mascaro said town staff will be present while the contractor opens the roadway and that the building official and public works will inspect conditions on site. She also asked Brewer to provide a contract or written estimate before starting work and to supply post‑work photos and a short report documenting what was found and how it was fixed. Commissioners discussed whether the expense should be charged to the town’s stormwater (Basin 1) funds; Mascaro said the work would come from the Basin 1 fund and noted additional available funds in that account, but the transcript included two inconsistent references to available funding (one speaker said “$3.41,” another referenced “about 500,000”) without further clarification.

A staff member also noted there is a pending statute that would require municipalities to maintain an annual inventory and inspection report of stormwater systems; commissioners asked that the town document pre‑work and post‑work conditions to aid future inventories and capital planning.

The meeting adjourned after the vote and later convened for a separate special meeting about firehouse leaks and repairs.