The Highland Village City Council on Jan. 14 ratified an emergency declaration and expenditures tied to repairs of sanitary sewer infrastructure damaged during 2024 flooding on Lake Lewisville.

City staff member Scott Christen told the council that unusually high lake levels in 2024 submerged a significant portion of sewer infrastructure located near the lakeshore and within federal flowage easements. A failure at a regional lift station surcharged the collection system during the flood, and staff found several compromised manholes after the lake receded. The city declared an emergency to obtain immediate repair services; staff said the contractor 4 Star Excavating Company and dewatering contractor Xylem Dewatering Solutions Inc. mobilized quickly to make repairs.

Christen said the work included building cofferdams, lifting and reseating rings and lids on concrete manholes that had been raised or damaged, and performing emergency bypass pumping. He said repairs are complete and that the city will return to council with a recommended construction project after a formal cleaning and camera inspection of the sewer line is finished.

Council approved Resolution 2025-3167 ratifying the emergency procurement and expenditures. City staff estimated the emergency repairs are in the roughly $250,000 range and are being paid from the city's utility fund. The resolution was approved 7-0 following a motion to ratify the city manager's emergency declaration.

Next steps: Staff will schedule a formal cleaning and CCTV inspection of the sewer line and bring results and any recommended construction contract back to council for consideration.