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Union City Council authorizes emergency repairs after sinkholes, approves up to $20,500 for pipe work and inspection
Summary
Council authorized Mansfield to replace failed stormwater pipe at 98 East High Street for $14,500 and to open and inspect a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1 spending up to $6,000; a resident had earlier told council stormwater floods his property on East High and Bridge streets.
Councilors on Union City Borough Council on July 9 approved emergency work to repair failing stormwater infrastructure after sinkholes appeared near East High Street.
The council voted unanimously to authorize Mansfield to replace a failing galvanized pipe section at 98 East High Street with plastic pipe at a cost of $14,500 and separately to open and inspect a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1, spending up to $6,000 after attempting to obtain a competing price from McLallen Construction. Councilor Steadman moved the first motion and Councilor Kerns seconded it; the second motion was moved by Steadman and seconded by Osborn. Both motions carried unanimously.
Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips told council a camera inspection found about 50 feet of cement pipe in good condition followed by roughly 90–100 feet of galvanized pipe whose bottom had failed; the inspection camera fell into the failed section and could not be retrieved, necessitating replacement. Phillips also reported that a subsequent rainstorm washed out topsoil and seed placed during a streambank stabilization project on Bentley Run.
Earlier in the meeting resident Anthony Hickey described repeated flooding that sends water from East High Street around onto Bridge Street and into his 104 East High Street property during heavy rains. Hickey said he contacted PennDOT, the borough and Representative Jake Banta’s office without resolution and said, “there is no crown on Bridge Street.” He offered to dig a ditch if the borough provided a catch basin and pipe. Solicitor Tim Wachter said the state has historically been responsible for the drainage but that the borough would investigate the complaint.
The council directed staff to proceed with the contracted repairs and to seek competitive pricing where appropriate; the Municipal Lot inspection is limited to $6,000 unless council further authorizes additional work. The meeting record shows no additional funding source was specified at the time of the vote.
