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Bluff City to pursue targeted manhole and pipe repairs on Bluff City Highway, staff says
Summary
Town staff recommended limited repairs — removing a duplicate manhole and replacing the damaged pipe segment — and to prepare a local‑level plan set on an hourly basis under the existing engineering agreement; staff set a not‑to‑exceed amount of $5,000 for immediate engineering work.
Bluff City staff told the Board that the fastest, most feasible fix for the recurring sewer problem on Bluff City Highway is a targeted replacement of the damaged pipe, removal of a redundant downstream manhole, and reconnection of the system rather than a full 180‑foot pipe replacement.
Austin Smith, the project consultant, and town staff said the town would bill out unbilled survey work in an existing task order, close that task order, and complete a local‑level plan set under the town's GES agreement on an hourly basis. Smith said the detailed, full permitting set is not needed for the immediate repair.
Staff recommended an engineering not‑to‑exceed (NTE) of $5,000 to prepare the plan and documentation for the affected manhole, with any additional work to return to the board for approval. The board heard contractor estimates that replacing the entire 180 linear feet of pipe under the highway could cost in the $80,000–$100,000 range; staff and the mayor said the town intends to do the minimal tactical repairs now and plan for larger replacement in later projects when funds allow.
Engineers on the record reported the lines are terracotta (clay) and brittle in places and said routine maintenance, a grease program, and localized replacement could mitigate near‑term overflows. Staff said the town crews may be able to remove and cap the redundant manhole and perform an open‑trench repair for the damaged segment.
No formal motion to award major construction was made during the discussion; staff will proceed with the described engineering work under the GES agreement up to the $5,000 limit and return to the board if the scope or cost exceeds that limit.
