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Perkins city manager reports collapsed sewer line; emergency repairs underway
Summary
City Manager Ernst told commissioners a concrete sanitary sewer line east of City Hall collapsed, leaving a temporary pumping solution in place. Initial localized repairs were estimated at about $175,000; a full replacement could reach millions if pipe-bursting isn’t possible.
City Manager Mister Ernst reported on Dec. 9 that a sanitary sewer line running east–west behind Perkins City Hall has partially collapsed and is degrading across the original town area. He said crews ran a camera about 134 feet from the east end and observed missing sections of the concrete pipe, describing it as “extremely bad shape” and saying the line keeps breaking as crews dig.
Ernst said the collapsed area has been put on a temporary bypass so homes are not backing up, but the pipe is 15 feet deep in places and is complicated by buried utilities including fiber-optic cable and abandoned gas lines. He told commissioners the most likely repair method is pipe-bursting — inserting a high-density polyethylene pipe inside the old line, then re-tapping each service — and estimated localized repairs for the two collapsed areas at “in the neighborhood of $175,000” based on about 500 feet of pipe. He cautioned that if pipe-bursting isn’t feasible and the entire run must be replaced, costs could rise substantially.
Ernst said the line appears to be older concrete likely installed mid-20th century; the consultant who inspected the line noted concrete aggregate and sections missing inside the barrel. Because the projected cost exceeds the city manager’s usual spending limit, Ernst said he would invoke the city’s emergency provision, begin necessary work to keep the system operating and bring a report back to the commission. He said he expected more detailed information by the close of business the next day.
Commissioners asked about timing, safety and who is responsible for the abandoned gas lines encountered in the trench. Ernst said the gas company had been notified and crews are cutting out abandoned sections as they uncover them. He described the excavation as hazardous because of depth and weight and said the city has sought local excavation help and assistance from its water department.
The commission approved, by roll call, the motion to consider the city manager’s removed consent-item report and took no additional formal action beyond allowing staff to proceed under emergency authority. Ernst said a follow-up agenda item will return in January to document the emergency action and final costs.
Article provenance: first discussion introduced in the city manager’s report and discussion beginning at SEG 115 and continuing through the motion and vote at SEG 262–SEG 301.
