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Glens Falls Water and Sewer Board approves contractor, funding move for Maple Street sewer repair
Summary
The board approved a funding transfer and accepted a low bid to replace a severely deteriorated section of sanitary sewer on Maple Street, selecting a local contractor and including a 10% contingency; the board said it will seek additional funding next year to continue the work.
The City of Glens Falls Water and Sewer Board on April 7 approved a transfer of funds and accepted a low bid to repair a failing section of the sanitary sewer on the corner of Cherry and Maple streets.
Board members said a televised camera inspection showed a nearly continuous failure along a roughly 350-foot run of 24-inch clay sewer pipe; staff recommended replacing the damaged section in the short term rather than attempting an in-house repair that could take months.
The board voted to move money within its budget to cover the work and to award the contract to Services Unlimited, described in the meeting as the lowest bidder and a local firm. Staff said a 10% contingency has been included in the appropriation. The transcript does not provide a clear dollar amount for the winning bid.
Engineering and operations staff told the board they recommended replacing the 24-inch clay with 12-inch SDR-26 PVC. They explained three reasons for the change: (1) prior combined-sewer-overflow work removed storm flows into that line so it now carries less peak flow, (2) the thicker-wall SDR-26 PVC is more resistant to deterioration and sulfide attack that the clay pipe suffered, and (3) the PVC has a higher roughness coefficient ("C factor") that improves flow and reduces settling.
Staff said the crew would replace pipe from manhole to manhole, that the line has about eight lateral connections to serve residences, and that the city will run a camera through the repaired section when work is complete. The board discussed budgeting for continued replacements of adjacent sections in next year’s budget.
Board members also said they preferred a local firm because it reduced mobilization time and the risk that the city’s own crews would be repeatedly pulled off the job, which could lengthen street closures. The board instructed staff to present the funding move to the City Council on April 8 for authorization to shift funds between budget lines, as required for the purchase.
The board moved and approved the Maple Street funds resolution and separately moved and approved the Maple Street bid award. The meeting record shows the motions carried with no recorded opposition.
