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Union City approves emergency repairs to collapsed stormwater pipe after sinkhole appears
Summary
Council unanimously approved spending $14,500 to replace a failed galvanized stormwater pipe after a backyard sinkhole formed at 98 East High Street and authorized up to $6,000 to open and inspect a hole in Municipal Lot #1.
Union City Borough Council unanimously approved emergency repairs to a failed stormwater line after a sinkhole formed in a backyard on East High Street.
Council voted to hire contractor Mansfield to replace the damaged galvanized section of pipe for $14,500 after Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips reported ‘‘a large sinkhole, approximately 3 feet wide by 8 feet deep’’ in the backyard of 98 East High Street and said a camera inspection showed roughly 90–100 feet of galvanized pipe with the bottom missing. Mansfield’s camera reportedly fell into the failed section and could not be retrieved.
Council also authorized Mansfield to open and clean out a separate hole in Municipal Lot #1, with spending capped at $6,000 pending a comparative price and availability check with McLallen Construction. The latter motion specified the borough would contract with whoever could do the work soonest and at the best price.
Resident Anthony Hickey, who said water runs down East High Street and into properties during heavy rain, told the council he contacted PennDOT, the borough and Representative Jake Banta’s office and that ‘‘the state should fix it’’ though Solicitor Tim Wachter added the condition has existed for years and may ultimately require state action. Hickey offered to dig a ditch if the borough supplies the catch basin and pipe; council agreed to investigate further.
Manager and council leaders said the repairs were urgent because the failed pipe and sinkholes presented immediate property and public-safety risks and because prior stabilization work in other locations had been compromised by storms. Both motions were moved and seconded (pipe repair moved by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Kerns; Municipal Lot cleanup moved by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Osborn) and carried unanimously.
The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the minutes; the motions are recorded as carried unanimously. The borough will proceed with Mansfield’s work to restore flow and stabilize affected areas and will follow up on the resident’s drainage concerns.
