Union City council approves emergency stormwater repairs after sinkholes appear

Union City Borough Council voted July 9 to authorize emergency repairs to stormwater infrastructure after recent sinkholes revealed failing pipe on East High Street.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council a camera inspection showed the first 50 feet of the line was cement pipe in good condition but roughly 90–100 feet of the downstream run was older galvanized pipe with its bottom eroded. Mansfield provided a quote of $14,500 to replace the galvanized section with plastic pipe; council approved that contract in a unanimous vote after a brief discussion involving Borough Manager Cindy Wells and Council President Cross.

Council also approved authorizing Mansfield to cut and inspect a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1, with spending capped at $6,000 and contingent on contacting McLallen Construction for a competing price and availability. Councilor Steadman made both motions; the first was seconded by Councilor Kerns and the lot-inspection motion was seconded by Councilor Osborn; both carried unanimously.

The repairs follow public comments earlier in the meeting from resident Anthony Hickey, who described recurring stormwater flow from East High Street onto Bridge Street and into private property during heavy rains. Solicitor Tim Wachter characterized the problem as long-standing and said responsibility for repairs could lie with the state, but the borough agreed to pursue the local repairs to address immediate safety and property risks.

The council did not specify a firm completion date for the work; Mansfield’s quote and the council motion provide authorization to proceed promptly.