Union City Council approves emergency stormwater repairs after sinkhole inspection

Councilors unanimously approved emergency repairs to stormwater infrastructure after borough crews and contractor Mansfield identified failing pipe and sinkholes. Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council a camera inspection found the first 50 feet of pipe in good, cement condition but roughly 90–100 feet of galvanized pipe had lost its bottom and the camera fell into the void. Mansfield quoted $14,500 to replace the galvanized section with plastic pipe at 98 East High Street; council approved that estimate at the July 9 meeting.

The council also authorized Mansfield to cut concrete and investigate a sinkhole in Municipal Lot No. 1 at a cost not to exceed $6,000, after the borough agreed to first contact McLallen Construction for price and availability. The motion to open and clean the hole was moved by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn and carried unanimously.

The borough manager and council leadership said the repair work was needed to halt recurring washouts and to restore road and lot safety; Phillips said rain had washed out topsoil and seed on a recently stabilized streambank at Bentley Run and crews planned follow-up work. Resident complaints about longstanding drainage at adjacent streets were raised during public comment; the borough said it would continue to investigate whether state or local responsibility applies.