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Union City Council approves emergency stormwater repairs after sinkholes expose failing pipe
Summary
Council approved $14,500 to replace failed galvanized storm pipe at 98 East High Street and authorized up to $6,000 to investigate a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1 after contractor Mansfield found collapsed galvanized pipe and a large backyard sinkhole during a camera inspection.
The Union City Borough Council on July 9 approved emergency repairs after a collapsed run of galvanized storm pipe and sinkholes were found beneath properties on East High Street and in a municipal lot.
Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told the council that a sinkhole roughly 3 feet wide and 8 feet deep had opened in the backyard of 98 East High Street and that a camera inspection found approximately 90–100 feet of deteriorated galvanized pipe whose bottom had failed. Mansfield quoted $14,500 to replace that section with plastic pipe and an additional roughly $6,000 to cut concrete and open a hole in Municipal Lot #1 to diagnose a separate sinkhole. "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," Phillips said.
Councilor Steadman moved and Councilor Kerns seconded a motion to hire Mansfield to replace the pipe at 98 East High for $14,500; the motion carried unanimously. Council subsequently authorized Mansfield to open and clean out the hole in Municipal Lot #1, spending up to $6,000 after contacting McLallen Construction for a competing price and scheduling availability; that motion also passed unanimously.
Resident Anthony Hickey, who spoke during the meeting’s public-comment portion about longstanding drainage that sends stormwater from East High onto Bridge Street and into his building, offered to dig a ditch if the borough would provide a catch basin and pipe. "I purchased the property and have made major improvements, but the water runs into my building," Hickey said; Borough officials said they will look further into the problem. Solicitor Tim Wachter noted the condition has been longstanding and that state agencies may not act quickly on the matter.
The council did not identify a funding source at the meeting beyond the emergency authorization, and officials said they would monitor related costs moving forward. Council members elected to proceed immediately with the repairs to address the active sinkhole and public-safety risk.
The council also asked staff to seek a competing quote for the Municipal Lot #1 work before authorizing payment and to schedule repairs as soon as a contractor is available.
