Ross Township plans to bill utility after Timberman Road washout

Road Superintendent Russ told the Ross Township Board of Trustees that a Southwest Water leak washed out the roadway shoulder on Timberman Road, causing a roughly 5-foot drop from the white line and forcing crews to shore up the road with large stone and riprap.

Russ said the township incurred about $4,200 in material costs to stabilize the site and used a mini excavator and crew hours for the repair. “We had to shore it back up with large Stone and and rip wrap and we ended up incurring $4,200 just in material to fix that,” Russ said during the department report. He added that he will assemble a detailed invoice of materials, equipment and labor and circulate it to trustees before sending it to Southwest Water for consideration.

The superintendent described visible clear water at the repair site and said the utility’s on-site representative was not initially receptive to a reimbursement request. Russ said photographs and video documenting the damage are available and that the township may pursue recovery of material and labor costs if the utility does not voluntarily reimburse.

Trustees discussed whether to bill for materials and man-hours; the board did not take a formal vote during the meeting on the reimbursement step but asked Russ to prepare the documentation for review and possible billing. The road department also proposed adding a sidewalk policy to the January work session agenda to clarify inspection, repair and assessment procedures.

The township said the washout followed a multi-day leak from Southwest Water; the agency’s exact knowledge and timing of the leak were not specified in the meeting record. Trustees asked staff to include photos and an itemized cost estimate when communicating with the utility.

Next steps: the road superintendent will email the proposed invoice and supporting photographs to trustees for review before the township forwards a reimbursement request to Southwest Water.