Union City Council approves trail contract, sinkhole repair and broadband application

Union City Borough Council voted unanimously on July 23 to move forward with three infrastructure and policy items: awarding the Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail contract, repairing a sinkhole and storm sewer connection in Municipal Lot No. 1, and authorizing an application for Broadband Ready Community designation.

The council accepted the low bid from Vavala Concrete of $84,774 to build the Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail. Councilor Osborn moved to award the contract and Councilor Steadman seconded; the motion carried unanimously. The council recorded the bid amount and the unanimous approval and directed staff to proceed with contract execution and project scheduling.

For an urgent stormwater problem in Municipal Lot No. 1, the council reviewed two quotes: McLallen Construction at $6,800 and Mansfield at $5,000. Councilor James Kerns moved and Councilor Steadman seconded a motion to accept Mansfield’s $5,000 quote to repair, replace and reconnect pipe at the sinkhole, with the borough providing pipe and fittings (materials estimated at $5,000) pending no other problems; the motion carried unanimously. Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips reported the borough recently put dye into the storm drain near Hogan’s Alley to trace flows and said the dye "is getting into the sanitary lines that go to Municipal Lot #1," and he is arranging camera inspection to determine the extent of the issue before and during repairs.

Council also adopted an update to the borough’s Right-to-Know Rules and Regulations clarifying how the borough will handle anonymous requests; Councilor Osborn moved and Councilor Steadman seconded the motion to approve the updated language, which carried unanimously.

On broadband, council members noted a public Broadband Ready Community meeting earlier in the evening had no attendees. Council moved to adopt a resolution authorizing an application to the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) for Broadband Ready Community designation and appointing the Erie Area Council of Governments as the borough’s municipal broadband champion; the motion, moved by Councilor James Kerns and seconded by Councilor Melissa Winkler, carried unanimously. The resolution authorizes staff to complete the PBDA application and to work with the Erie Area COG on required materials.

The council’s vision statement — included in the meeting minutes — emphasizes the borough’s focus on measured growth: "The Union City area is a thriving rural community of families, businesses and organizations dedicated to encouraging growth while maintaining small town values." The approved projects and the broadband application are expected to support recreation, infrastructure resilience and broadband readiness in support of that vision.

Next steps: borough staff will finalize the contract with Vavala Concrete, coordinate the sinkhole repair with Mansfield and the camera inspection work noted by the streets supervisor, and submit the PBDA application with Erie Area COG serving as municipal broadband champion. Council will receive updates at future meetings as work progresses.