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Decatur approves $1.2M design contract for sewer I&I project tied to EPA consent order
Summary
Council authorized a professional engineering services agreement to design Lost Bridge North Basin and Florian Basin inflow/infiltration reduction work; staff said completing the four priority areas listed to the U.S. EPA would allow the city to petition for release from the consent order and highlighted an overhead sewer program for homeowners concerned about basement backups.
The Decatur City Council authorized a professional engineering services agreement with Crawford, Murphy & Tilley Inc. for final design of the Lost Bridge North Basin and Florian Basin inflow/infiltration (I&I) reduction project, committing $1.2 million for design work while staff estimated construction at roughly $16 million.
Councilman Horn asked whether completing the four priority areas named in the U.S. EPA consent order would satisfy the city’s obligations. Mr. Newell, the city’s project representative, said the city submitted recommended repairs for the four priority areas and that "once those four are done we could petition [the EPA] to release us from the order," though any EPA decision would be up to the agency.
Mr. Newell also described an overhead sewer program for homeowners worried about basement backups, saying the city has a program available and explaining its cost structure to council: "We pay 100% of that cost and the sanitary district reimburses us 25% of the cost to the homeowners," he said. He added that staff respond to hundreds of basement backup calls each year and that eligible homeowners are informed of the program.
The council approved the contract on a unanimous roll call. Staff said the design phase will precede a larger construction estimate and that completing the priority projects would position the city to seek relief under the EPA agreement.
Next steps: the engineering firm will perform final design work and staff will continue outreach to affected residents about the overhead sewer option.
