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Escanaba council approves $500,000 televising plan for sanitary sewers, asks for lining cost estimate
Summary
The Escanaba City Council approved up to $500,000 to clean and televise roughly 24 miles of sanitary sewer and obtain NASSCO PACP condition ratings, and asked staff to return with estimated costs to line problem segments.
Escanaba City Council on Feb. 20 approved up to $500,000 to clean and televise about 24 miles of the city’s sanitary sewer system and to obtain NASSCO PACP condition ratings, and directed staff to get cost estimates for sewer lining.
The funding will pay Tunnel Vision of Escanaba to clean and video sewers identified as priority areas and to produce the NASSCO condition assessments that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) requires for some state funding (DWSRF/SRF). Council also asked staff to provide lining cost estimates before or while the televising work begins.
Officials said the televised inspections are needed to target repairs and avoid lining pipe that remains in acceptable condition. Staff told the council the current bid came in well under the $500,000 authorization — about $320,000 for the base televising work — but the approved authorization includes contingencies for heavy cleaning, bypass pumping and possible extra work once crews are on site.
Council discussion emphasized that televising is a prerequisite for some state funding and for applying to be removed from parts of the city’s Administrative Consent Order (ACO) tied to sanitary-sewer inflow and infiltration. Several councilors cautioned that immediately cash-funding lining work could jeopardize future grant eligibility: if the city fixes problems too quickly with cash, staff warned, it might reduce chances for loan forgiveness or grant aid tied to later SRF applications.
Council also asked staff to obtain Tunnel Vision’s lining unit prices so members could see a concrete dollar estimate if they chose to proceed with lining while crews are mobilized. Staff said any lining purchases would be cash-funded or financed (bonding) because grant eligibility typically requires condition-rating documentation first.
The council’s motion to approve the contract and request lining quotes passed on a roll call with all members voting in favor.
