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Council debates cost and long-term liability for Creek Street landslide stabilization
Summary
Munhall council discussed bids, access agreements and ownership questions for the Creek Street landslide stabilization project; only one access agreement remains unsigned, councilors sought accurate rebids and legal guidance on whether the borough would assume long-term maintenance liability if it funds repairs.
Council members reviewed options to address the Creek Street (Quick Street) landslide: proceed quickly using local funds or pursue grant funding already applied for under Act 13 flood mitigation. KH (the borough engineer) said bidding documents are prepared and the project is ready to advertise, with a bid opening proposed for July 10 if the council authorizes advertising.
KH reported that access agreements for private properties affected by the project were signed by all owners except one, Richard Granger, which the borough still must resolve before work begins. Council members repeatedly sought an accurate cost estimate; one councilor said he had seen a lower figure from a local contractor and asked for rebid numbers to ensure competitiveness. “We get our numbers back, we get all this stuff done, we can say, ‘Hey, it’s going to cost us 1.7 million,’” a councilor said during the exchange as members pressed for firm pricing and grant eligibility clarification.
Members debated whether the borough would assume ownership or long-term maintenance obligations for the repaired hillside. Several members said the borough should not be indefinitely liable for a hillside on private property; others argued that if the borough pays to stabilize the slope it should seek an agreement transferring ongoing maintenance responsibility to the property owners. The borough solicitor (Greg) was asked to analyze legal exposure and prepare recommended contract language clarifying ownership, access and maintenance obligations.
Council agreed to put the project out to bid to establish real price data and then evaluate grant vs. local-funding options and potential owner agreements. No final decision to award or begin work was made at the meeting; the council asked staff and the solicitor to return with clearer cost estimates and legal guidance.
