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Council approves contract amendment for alternate sanitary bypass during force main relining
Summary
To avoid sanitary sewer overflow during a four-month relining of a north-side force main, the council approved a contract amendment adopting an alternate bypass route; the plan will place a temporary above-ground bypass through a residential right-of-way and drew debate over aesthetics and funding (TIF).
The Elmhurst City Council voted 11'1, with two members absent, on Oct. 6 to approve a contract amendment for an alternate bypass route required during relining of a north-side force main. City staff and engineers said the change reduces the risk of sanitary sewer overflow while the force main is out of service for approximately four months.
"Sanitary sewer overflow is something we really want to avoid," the committee chair said when explaining the changed bypass plan. Staff described an alternate route that requires a temporary above-ground bypass through the North York right-of-way and along the ComEd corridor, a routing some council members said would create an aesthetic and neighborhood disturbance for the duration of the work.
Alderman Bridal objected to routing a temporary sanitary line through a residential area, citing aesthetics and resident disruption and urged using capital-improvement funding rather than TIF proceeds. "I'm not a fan of utilizing a TIF to continue to pay for, essentially capital projects," Bridal said. Supporters said alternatives were explored, including re-bidding or replacing the vendor, and those options were costlier or infeasible on a timetable that would avoid overflow risks.
Roll call recorded: Nardini (Aye), Besito (Aye), Urbie (Aye), Brennan (Aye), Bellinger (Aye), Jenko (Aye), Hill (Aye), Jensen (Aye), Baker (Aye), Nudiera (Aye), Virgil (Aye), and Graham (No). Two members were absent. The motion passed.
The council passed the contract amendment and directed staff to implement the bypass as specified to protect the collection system. Staff said the temporary bypass is expected to remain in place for about four months; final routing and mitigation measures will be coordinated with residents. Funding for the amendment was discussed; the report lists a funding request (amount in staff report) and staff indicated use of TIF for a portion of the work, which some aldermen opposed. The city will post follow-up notices to affected residents and provide a schedule of work and contact information.
