Millersville staff seek council OK to plan long‑term repair for recurring Valley Road sinkhole

Millersville Borough staff told council on July 22 that a recurring sinkhole at Valley Road and Spring Drive stems from an aging stormwater pipe beneath the roadway and requires a long‑term repair. Manager Rebecca said staff had discussed two repair options with the borough engineer: one option that would replace the existing crossing and is estimated at about $99,000 if city water and UGI (utility) clearances allow; a second option that assumes two crossings because of utility conflicts and is estimated at about $147,000. Rebecca said the repair was not budgeted this fiscal year. The borough has roughly $486,000 remaining in its miscellaneous streets project budget from savings on other work, and some engineering funds remain available, she said. The borough could use reserves for the remainder if necessary. Borough staff recommended preparing formal plans to present to UGI and Lancaster City Water to determine which option is feasible; council gave staff permission to proceed with planning and utility coordination so the project can be fully scoped and brought back with firm cost estimates. Public Works discussion noted the borough’s stormwater pipes are aging and that isolated failures are likely to continue without a longer‑term replacement program. Staff said the outfall at this location is a priority under the borough’s MS4 permit, and repeated short‑term patches have not resolved the underlying corrosion. Council and staff agreed staff should proceed to have probe holes and formal plans produced, then return with a specific construction recommendation and funding plan that would include use of reserves or adjustments to the capital budget.