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Council approves alley reconstruction contract amid drainage concerns for North 6th Street
Summary
Keokuk City Council awarded an $86,319 contract to Hickey Contracting Company to reconstruct the alley at North 6th Street after an emergency sanitary sewer repair, and discussed private downspouts, storm-sewer connections and whether the city should provide additional drainage fixes.
Keokuk City Council on June 5 approved a contract with Hickey Contracting Company of Keokuk to reconstruct the alley at North 6th Street for $86,319, following an emergency sewer repair performed last fall.
Staff told council the collapsed sanitary sewer was replaced and the ground left to settle; alley reconstruction was needed to correct stormwater leakage into nearby businesses. The project scope returned the alley to a drivable concrete surface: staff recommended installing a 7-inch concrete section with an invert to funnel surface water to an existing intake at the end of the alley and to nearby Main Street intakes.
Council discussion centered on basement water and roof-drain connections. Council member (speaker 7) and business owners had questioned whether the city would install a temporary drainage fix and whether existing roof drains tied into sanitary piping. Director Carroll said the city had disconnected underground connections that impropriately ran private roof drains into the sanitary sewer, that private downspouts remain the property owners’ responsibility and that the city is not required to run public storm lines to collect private roof drains. Carroll said staff consulted the city attorney and concluded piping to serve private roof drains would not be feasible or appropriate as a public utility.
Council members expressed concern that some basements continued to see groundwater and that surface drainage in old building districts can overwhelm even functional drains during heavy storms. Staff noted the alley reconstruction and concrete surface are intended to be an improved, durable surface and that resolving preexisting basement infiltration entirely may not be possible without additional private-side drainage work by owners.
The council moved and passed the resolution to approve the contract; staff will oversee construction and coordinate with affected business owners about drainage expectations and next steps.
