Union City awards $22,295 pipe repair contract, approves catch-basin easement and small land purchase

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 approved multiple public-works measures, awarding a $22,295 contract to Mansfield for sinkhole and pipe repairs at Municipal Lot #1, approving a retroactive easement at 104 East High Street to allow installation of a borough catch basin, and approving a $500 purchase of a small parcel to expand Municipal Lot #3 for a gazebo project.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council that a 68-foot section toward the Municipal Authority pipe at Lot #1 had failed and that experts — including Bob Carpenter, of Insight, and Engineer Tim Wells — recommended replacing a 24-inch clay tile, reconnecting pipes in the sinkhole, installing a larger catch basin and replacing roughly 10 feet of pipe. Mansfield bid $22,295; McLallen Construction bid $23,450. Both estimates required the borough to provide a truck during construction.

Councilor Steadman moved to hire Mansfield for the work; Councilor Osborn seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

On 104 East High Street, PennDOT will install a catch basin and the borough agreed to install a second basin and associated pipe. The council approved a retroactive easement with property owner Anthony Hickey under terms that the owner will dig and maintain the ditch and the borough will accept responsibility for the two catch basins and approximately 60 feet of connecting pipe.

Council also approved a retroactive motion to purchase a portion of property adjoining Municipal Lot #3 from the parcel at 8 South Street for $500 after a survey and solicitor paperwork are completed; the acquisition is intended to create a connection for a planned gazebo. Motions on both the easement and the purchase carried unanimously.

Work on the Lot #1 sinkhole will proceed once contracts and logistics, including provision of a borough truck, are arranged.