Union City council approves $14,500 emergency repair after sinkhole, orders inspection of municipal lot

Union City Borough Council on July 9 authorized emergency repairs to a failing stormwater line behind 98 East High Street after borough crews discovered a collapsed section of old galvanized pipe and a yard‑size sinkhole.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told council the first 50 feet of the run from East High Street was cement pipe in good condition but the next 90–100 feet consisted of galvanized pipe whose bottom had eroded. Mansfield, the contractor, reported a camera used to inspect the line fell into the degraded section and could not be retrieved. Mansfield quoted $14,500 to replace the galvanized portion with plastic pipe.

Councilor Steadman moved to approve Mansfield’s recommended replacement work; Councilor Kerns seconded the motion, which the borough recorded as carried unanimously. The council also authorized Mansfield to cut concrete and investigate a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1 and to spend up to $6,000, after obtaining a competing price and availability from McLallen Construction.

Resident Anthony Hickey had raised broader drainage concerns earlier in the meeting, saying runoff from East High Street and Bridge Street has flooded his property in heavy storms. Phillips acknowledged the longstanding problem; Solicitor Tim Wachter told council “the state should fix it but they most likely won't,” while the borough agreed to look into local mitigation possibilities.

The work approved is limited to the immediate repairs described in Mansfield’s quote; council did not authorize additional pipe replacement beyond the deteriorated galvanized section. Council records indicate the repairs are to begin as soon as Mansfield can schedule the work.