Grosse Ile commission awards nearly $1.69 million sewer‑lining contract; adds 15% contingency

The Grosse Ile Township Public Service Commission recommended awarding a contract for sewer lining and structure (manhole) rehabilitation to the low bidder at a base cost of $1,688,281, and approved a 15% contingency that brings the total authorization to $1,941,523.15.

Township Manager Derek Thiel told commissioners the work derives from the township's sanitary sewer asset management plan and represents the highest‑priority capital repairs. He said the project is primarily grant funded: the township received about $3 million in federal funds for sanitary work island‑wide and the lining contract will be covered roughly 80% by federal funds and 20% by the township for the construction component (engineering costs remain the township's responsibility).

Engineering staff and the township's consultant described three repair methods in the contract scope: spot lining, full‑length cured‑in‑place pipe (CIPP) lining, and manhole (chimney) repairs. A contractor video and a consultant walkthrough explained the CIPP inversion process, resin curing and remote robotic cutouts of service laterals. In a video excerpt played for the commission, a contractor representative said properly installed CIPP liners have demonstrated service lives of decades to more than 100 years in other installations.

The low bidder was identified in the meeting transcript as "DBM" (the vendor name was also referenced elsewhere as DMV or DVM utilities in the discussion); the engineering team said it had checked references and that prior customers reported satisfactory performance. The commission noted the low bid was substantially lower than another bidder and that references were verified by the township engineer.

Commissioner Lenny Pedestros moved to recommend award of the contract as presented; the motion carried on a voice vote. Commissioners discussed that the contract includes work at roughly 60 manholes across the island, that residents in affected areas would be notified before work begins, and that bypass pumping will be used during lining operations. Staff said the contractor would televise (camera) before and after work and the results will be entered into the asset management plan.

Timeline staff mentioned includes mobilization in August and work extending into the following spring (April), with the contractor and subcontractors remaining in the community through that period. The commission authorized a 15% contingency to permit additional repairs discovered while crews are working in pipes without having to rebid small additional items.

The commission recorded the award as recommended to the township board and approved the motion to authorize contract execution; staff will present the contract recommendation and related documents to the township board for final approval and execution.