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Huron approves payment to sewer-lining contractor; city engineer outlines 10–20 year plan
Summary
The Huron City Commission approved a $36,448.17 progress payment to HK Solutions Group for sanitary sewer lining work and heard a status update from the city engineer who said roughly half the current contract is complete and the broader city lining/replacement effort could take 10–20 years.
The City Commission of Huron on a unanimous vote approved payment request No. 9 to HK Solutions Group for $36,448.17 to continue sanitary sewer lining work.
City Engineer Brett Rungeier told commissioners the contractor is “on schedule” for the current contract and that the project is roughly 51% complete. He said cold weather recently slowed crews but that the work — televising, cleaning and lining vitrified clay pipe — is proceeding and the contractor’s current contract has a completion date of Oct. 31, 2025.
Rungeier said the lining program is long-term. “I would say 10 to 20 years yet of lining,” he said, explaining that much of Huron’s older system is vitrified clay pipe. He outlined a mix of strategies going forward: continue lining where practical to avoid street excavation, and pursue full replacement using PVC for larger-diameter runs or locations with severe deterioration.
Rungeier described the liner process to the commission as “a pipe within a pipe,” noting lining is structural and, where installed, has performed well so far. He said lining reduces infiltration and inflow — groundwater and rainwater that enter the sanitary system and increase treatment costs — and that flow monitors have shown spikes after heavy rains indicating remaining problem areas.
Commissioners asked about the timeline to complete lining citywide; Rungeier said estimates vary by condition and location but reiterated the multi-decade outlook. He added that some sections — notably the southern portion of Dakota Avenue from Ninth Street south — will be candidates for full replacement during upcoming street reconstruction in 2026–27 because of large-diameter sewers, bad manholes and significant sags in the line.
The approved payment is a routine progress payment; the staff recommendation to pay was supported by Finance Director Pauline Carey and accepted without amendment.
City staff said the lining approach has reduced the need for open-cut replacement in many locations, but replacement will be used where lining is not cost-effective or where street reconstruction requires excavation.
The commission voted to approve the payment request by roll call.
