Consultant recommends including sinkholes and trench drains in North Campus Phase 3; contractor hit buried power cable at baseball field

Josh, the district project consultant, recommended the next phase of stormwater repairs at North Campus focus on continuing the work toward the front of the school and include long surface trench drains where sinkholes are forming along the edge of the Lehman Intermediate parking lot. He said Phase 1 addressed the lowest point near the stadium entrance, Phase 2 extended outward, and Phase 3 should include the stretch where sinkholes are now developing.

"I would recommend starting to do some of those, surface trench drains as part of the next phase of work. They just seem to be getting worse and worse every time I'm up there," Josh said. He recommended verifying downstream capacity if the committee considered eliminating or relocating some drains so receiving structures could handle increased flows.

Committee members described the sinkhole locations and current temporary repairs: a concrete walkway/step area had been covered with diamond plate because of subsidence, and several small sinkholes had appeared along the edge of pavement. Josh agreed to include that stretch in Phase 3 scope and budget for committee review.

Separately, staff reported that while boring a footer hole for a new baseball scoreboard at North Campus a contractor struck an underground, direct‑burial power cable that feeds the baseball field lights. The meeting record states the cable was de‑energized at the time of discovery and that the district's contract language places responsibility for replacing the damaged cable on the district (not the contractor) because utility location responsibility rested with the district under the contract. Staff said they would verify whether a PA 1 (public utility location) call or a private utility‑locator service had been performed and would provide a cost estimate for repair.

Permit and capital updates: staff also reported progress on permits for several projects (Lincoln Township and East Stroudsburg Borough permits were discussed; East Stroudsburg’s permit initially appeared high and was reduced after questions). The committee thanked the borough for a permit‑fee reduction. Staff gave brief updates on stadium hot-water/heating work (domestic hot water replaced; boiler switch-over to occur after heating season) and Otis elevator repairs (temporary packing replacement ongoing while awaiting a permanent piston-shaft part).

Ending: Josh will include the sinkhole stretch and long trench drains in the Phase 3 scope and budget. Staff will check utility‑location steps and provide repair cost estimates for the damaged cable and an updated project schedule and permit status at a future meeting.