City awards $789,853 contract for Spring Creek Forest sewer condition assessment

The Garland City Council on Oct. 21 approved a $789,853 professional services contract with Kimley‑Horn and Associates to perform a condition assessment of the Spring Creek Forest Preserve wastewater interceptor.

Mr. Brinkman, a city staff member, told the council the contract will focus on sewer mains that run through the preserve from the George Bush Parkway north to Campbell Road and that about 70% of the contract value is tied to inspecting those sewer mains. "The total contract amount is $789,853. Of that, about 70% of that is related to condition assessment of the sewer mains in the area," Brinkman said.

The contract calls for coordination with local stakeholders — the Spring Creek Preserve Board, Dallas County and the city parks department — to address access and minimize disturbance to the preserve while crews survey and document manholes, sewer mains and any damage. Brinkman said the work will include survey planning and internal inspections using multi‑sensor equipment and closed‑circuit televising (CCTV). He told the council the assessment should be complete "hopefully within about 6 months" but that some inspections are weather‑dependent and could be delayed by winter rainfall.

Members of the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest urged the council to remove the sewer pipeline from the preserve as part of a long‑term solution. Barbara Bainum, vice president of the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, thanked the council for funding the assessment and told the council she wants the effort to "really begin, from the sewer bed inspection, to the erosion from the incorrectly bulldozed road, to the rehabilitation of the forest, and then to deciding the future of what I like to call the poop project by getting that pipeline out of the preserve." Reba Collins, a society board member, outlined volunteer restoration work already underway, including seed collection and plant rescues.

Council members asked that the consultant engage the preserve's experts and the parks board throughout the process. Council Member Williams asked how stakeholders would be involved; Brinkman said there would be kickoff and periodic meetings and that final recommendations "will be reflective of those discussions." Council Member Thomas noted the city auditor is also investigating communication failures that led to the damage and said that report is forthcoming.

Council Member Dutton moved to approve the contract; Council Member Moore seconded the motion. The council voted unanimously to award the contract and authorize the city manager or designee to execute the agreement.

The city did not set a firm date to decide on relocating the interceptor; the contract directs the consultant to prepare cost estimates and alternatives, including options to rehabilitate the interceptor in place or relocate it outside the preserve.