Union City approves $5,000 contractor quote to repair sinkhole, will supply pipe and fittings

Union City Borough Council voted unanimously July 23 to accept a $5,000 bid from Mansfield to repair and reconnect storm sewer pipe at a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1.

The motion, made by Councilor James Kerns and seconded by Councilor Steadman, includes the borough supplying the pipe and fittings. Council minutes record an alternative quote from McLallen Construction for $6,800; the minutes also list the borough's estimated cost to provide pipe and fittings at $5,000. The Mansfield award was approved "pending no other problems," according to the motion recorded in the minutes.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips reported the borough placed dye into the storm drain near Hogan's Alley and that dye was appearing in sanitary lines leading to Municipal Lot #1; he said the borough is arranging camera inspection of the affected sewer line and recommended extending the inspection toward the Salvation Army property to identify where the line terminates. A person identified as Riley supported the recommendation to camera the line farther upstream.

The minutes show councilors and the mayor linked concerns about unanticipated stormwater costs to recent personnel and budget discussions elsewhere on the agenda, but they recorded no change to staffing at the July 23 meeting. The council moved promptly from the streets discussion to vote on the contractor quote.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: the borough will provide pipe and fittings and proceed with the Mansfield contract work unless further complications are discovered.