Council approves Grand Avenue/Magnolia sewer pipe‑bursting change order; sewer work funded via water/sewer revenue bonds

The City Council voted July 15 to approve a change order for the Grand Avenue and Magnolia Avenue pipe‑bursting contract, part of an ongoing sewer replacement program. Council discussed funding and program scope during the meeting: "The pipe bursting program began at the city in the early 2000s," said a public works official, describing an ongoing agreement with TCEQ and a long‑running effort to reduce sanitary sewer overflows. The city said fiscal‑year 2025 includes $6 million dedicated to sanitary sewer repair and replacement; this contract is part of that commitment. Council members asked whether the work is covered by revenue bonds or general‑obligation bonds. Staff responded that sewer replacement projects are typically financed by revenue bonds tied to the water enterprise fund and are repaid through water and sewer rates rather than property taxes: "These dollars are already there and accounted for," staff said. The council asked for and received a description of how pipe‑bursting is carried out in the field: staff said excavation is usually limited to manholes and service connections, but on Grand Avenue they encountered unexpected locations and adverse soils that required additional pits and pavement replacement. The change order includes pavement replacement so the street will not be left with multiple patches when work is complete. Council approved the change order on a voice vote. Ending: Staff said the broader program has replaced roughly half of the older concrete and clay sewer lines the city plans to address; the Grand/Magnolia work is one of several funded sewer projects on a multi‑year schedule.