Cumberland County awards contract to repair Route 60 sewer line; one supervisor abstains

The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 12 to authorize a contract with Brock Construction to repair a compromised stretch of sanitary sewer along Route 60 in the courthouse area. County staff presented bids under IFB‑08062025 and recommended Brock Construction as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder at a base contract price of $258,700, with a 15% not‑to‑exceed contingency that brings the authorized amount to $297,505.

County staff (Mr. Staney) told the board the work covers roughly 100 feet of 8‑inch PVC sanitary sewer, and includes erosion control, pavement overlay and site restoration. "We wanted to address this issue before it became a true emergency," staff said, explaining inspections had found standing water and other signs the pipe had been compromised during camera investigation.

The contract requires a bonded contractor, a 75‑day completion timeframe, and traffic control/flagging when work reduces lanes on Route 60. VDOT reviewed and signed off on permit elements and the project’s traffic controls, staff said. The county noted coordination with adjacent property owners and with VDOT and its on‑call engineering firm, TRC, during design and permitting.

During discussion one board member disclosed a personal business relationship with the recommended contractor and announced they would abstain from the votes related to the contract. The board then approved the contract authorization and separately approved the appropriation to fund the award and contingency. The motions passed with the recorded abstention noted on the public record.

Staff said, because of seasonal constraints at the asphalt plant, work would begin as soon as practicable once contractors mobilize.

What happens next: County staff will finalize contract execution, coordinate lane‑closure logistics with VDOT and the sheriff’s office for flagging, and schedule construction with the awarded contractor.