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Union City council approves emergency repairs after sinkhole, allocates up to $20,500 for pipe and lot work
Summary
Union City Borough authorized emergency repairs after a sinkhole exposed failing galvanized stormwater pipe at 98 East High Street; council approved $14,500 to replace pipe and authorized up to $6,000 to open and inspect a second sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1.
Councilors voted July 9 to approve immediate repairs after borough crews discovered a failing stormwater line and a sinkhole that endangered a private property and a municipal lot.
Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council a camera inspection from East High Street found about 50 feet of intact cement pipe followed by roughly 90–100 feet of galvanized pipe whose bottom had failed and into which the camera fell. A large sinkhole about 3 feet wide and 8 feet deep appeared in the backyard of 98 East High Street, Phillips said. Mansfield provided a quote of $14,500 to remove the degraded galvanized section and replace it with plastic pipe.
After discussion between Borough Manager Cindy Wells, Council President Cross, and Public Works Liaison Councilor Steadman, Councilor Steadman moved and Councilor Kerns seconded approval of the Mansfield quote; the motion carried unanimously.
Council also authorized Mansfield to cut concrete and open a separate hole in Municipal Lot #1 to assess the problem, with spending capped at $6,000 pending a pricing check and availability from McLallen Construction; that motion, moved by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn, also passed unanimously.
Resident Anthony Hickey had earlier raised stormwater problems on East High and Bridge streets, saying water runs into his building during heavy rainstorms and that he had contacted PennDOT, the borough and Representative Jake Banta’s office with no resolution. Solicitor Tim Wachter told council the condition has existed for years and the borough would investigate and follow up.
The motions allocate up to $20,500 in immediate repair work for the two sites; council did not specify a separate funding source during the meeting. Manager Wells said the borough would solicit McLallen Construction for a competitive price and proceed quickly to address public-safety and property risks.
The council adjourned at 7:04 p.m. and entered an executive session on personnel with no further action reported.
