Ione council approves emergency repair after clay sewer pipe collapses on Shakeley Lane

The Ione City Council on March 4 authorized an emergency repair of a collapsed clay sewer pipe that caused raw sewage to back up into a residence at 415 Shakeley Lane.

City Engineer Jonathan Mitchell reported that ABC Plumbing performed a video inspection under right-of-entry at the homeowner's request and documented a collapsed clay pipe where a newer PVC lateral meets the older line. Mitchell said the clay pipe, which runs under the roadway and interfaces with the sewer main, has collapsed and created a bend that causes backups. He estimated the cost to repair the roadway patch and replace the failing segment at about $8,500.

The issue, Mitchell said, is typical in older parts of town where terracotta/clay mains remain in service and are prone to collapse. "The clay pipe collapse extends onto the roadway and also interfaces with the sewer main that's under the roadway," Mitchell said. "The cost of repair is estimated at $8,500 which would include the patching of the roadway." He added that video evidence of the collapse was available.

Municipal code citations shown in the staff materials say owners are responsible for repairs of laterals from the main under the road, making the legal responsibility for this work unclear without council direction. Mitchell recommended repairing the failed pipe and gaining access to adjacent properties to perform dye tests to determine whether multiple homes tie into the failing lateral.

During public comment, residents described repeated sewage overflows at the property and urged council action. Andrea Bonham, a resident who said she has also experienced sewer problems, told the council the family had been forced to discard children's toys and bicycles and had experienced health impacts. "This is not a big-ticket item that makes a huge difference in the life of this family that has suffered enough," Bonham said.

After discussion, council members made and seconded a motion to authorize an emergency exception to repair the clay portion of the lateral up to the property line so the city work would address the portion in the public right-of-way and install a cleanout to make future maintenance easier. The motion passed on voice vote; the mayor announced, "Ayes have it."

Council and staff said the repair would provide immediate relief and that further investigations (including dye tests) could follow if access to neighboring properties is granted. The council directed staff to proceed with the limited-scope repair as an emergency public-health exception and to continue work on a code change that staff and council have discussed for changing the lateral/responsibility structure in older neighborhoods.

The estimated $8,500 repair was presented as covering trenching, pipe replacement, compaction and roadway patching. Staff noted additional costs could arise if more extensive work were needed after camera or dye testing on properties that also connect to the same lateral.

Members of the public and council emphasized the broader problem in older sections of Ione, where terracotta or clay mains frequently fail, and asked that the council consider ordinance changes or a longer-term plan for similar repairs in other neighborhoods.