Kentwood awards sanitary lateral lining contract; staff cites trenchless CIPP method and budget availability

The Kentwood City Commission authorized the mayor to enter into a one-year contract (with the possibility of up to four additional one-year extensions) with Waste Recovery Systems to perform sanitary sewer lateral lining.

City staff described the work as trenchless CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) lining, a method they said restores structural integrity of laterals and typically costs less than open excavation. Staff said the work targets identified residential laterals across the Kentwood/Wyoming water district; the addresses would be residential streets and trenchless methods minimize traffic impacts. Staff also said there is a surplus in the sewer fund available to cover the project this year.

During questions, commissioners asked how far the lining extends (staff said the lining goes from the main through the lateral to just past the plumber’s connection/right-of-way and that temporary easements are obtained as necessary). Staff also described a typical approach of installing a temporary cleanout and lining past the plumber’s connection to address root infiltration.

The contract amount was presented in staff remarks as an amount for the fiscal year recorded in the meeting transcript as "2.26 300." The transcript wording was ambiguous; staff further said historically the city budgets for this work and that over the last decade there is a surplus in the sewer fund available for lining work. The motion to authorize the contract passed.

No street closures beyond minimal local work were anticipated by staff; scheduling and targeted addresses will be coordinated as needed.