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Union City council approves emergency repairs after sinkholes expose failing storm pipe
Summary
Council authorized Mansfield to replace a corroded galvanized storm pipe at 98 East High Street for $14,500 and to open and inspect a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1 with up to $6,000 in spending after seeking a competing price; both motions passed unanimously.
Union City Borough Council voted July 9 to hire Mansfield to replace a failing section of stormwater pipe at 98 East High Street and to open a sinkhole in Municipal Lot No. 1 for inspection and repair work.
Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council a large sinkhole—"approximately 3’ wide x 8’ deep"—appeared in the backyard of 98 East High Street and that a camera inspection showed "the first 50 feet was cement pipe in good condition. After that it had been galvanized pipe for approximately 90–100 feet that the bottom was gone. The camera fell into that and couldn’t be retrieved." Mansfield quoted $14,500 to replace the galvanized pipe with plastic, and approximately $6,000 to cut concrete and inspect the sinkhole in Municipal Lot No. 1.
Councilor Steadman moved to approve the Mansfield replacement at $14,500; Councilor Kerns seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council also approved a motion, moved by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn, authorizing Mansfield to open and clean out the hole in Municipal Lot No. 1, spending up to $6,000 after contacting McLallen Construction for price and availability. Both motions were recorded as carried unanimously.
In public comment earlier in the meeting, resident Anthony Hickey said stormwater running down East High Street and onto Bridge Street had entered his property during heavy rains; he offered to dig a ditch if the borough supplied a catch basin and pipe. Solicitor Tim Wachter told the council the condition has "done this for years" and said the state would be the most likely agency to fix the roadway, though he warned that the state "most likely won’t." The borough agreed to look into options with the property owner.
The repairs address immediate public‑safety and property‑damage risks; the council allocated the contractor work as an emergency repair on the motion carried at the meeting. The borough will follow up with the contractor quotes and scheduling information and report back at a future meeting.
