Meadville OKs proposal for Fourth Street sewer upgrade

Planned improvements to an aged section of sewer line along Meadville’s Fourth Street between Meadville Convalescent Home and Franklin County High School could soon become a reality — as soon as the exact way it will be done is decided.

The Meadville Board of Aldermen voted 4-0 on Tuesday, March 8 to green-light the project with Anding Construction of Brookhaven submitting the low bid for the work.

“We received two (variations of) bids with one for a traditional pipe replacement and the other for pipe bursting with my recommendation being replacement — with a significant caveat,” Mayor Lane B. Reed told the panel.

“After meeting with our representatives from Dungan Engineering, if the old pipe is straight, we can do the pipe bursting and be in the same position as we would with replacement and save about $3,000. However, if there is any dip in the old pipe between the nursing home and the (high) school, then they cannot do the bursting.”

Pipe bursting is a method of replacing buried sewer, water or natural gas pipes lines without the need for traditional construction trenches.

Through the process, the existing pipe is opened and forced outward by a bursting tool, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic expansion head, with a new section of pipe pulled into place during the construction.

Anding Construction’s bid for the traditional pipe replacement method was $80,450 while the pipe bursting option came in at $77,223.75.

The mayor said an in-line camera will be used to examine the old Fourth Street sewer line well before any work is done to see if it is “straight enough” to allow for the pipe bursting process to be undertaken.

“Obviously, we don’t want to have to dig the road up as would be necessary with pipe replacement, but whatever we have to do will replace one of the oldest sections of sewer lines in the town,” Reed continued.

The scope of work would also likely include the replacement of two existing manholes based on Reed’s recommendation due to the structures’ age and concerns regarding their integrity.

The cost of the project will be covered by funding received through the federal coronavirus-related American Rescue Plan Act and internet sales tax collections.

In other action, the Meadville Board of Aldermen gave approval to the following pieces of business on a 4-0 vote:

• Amended the fiscal year 2022 town budget to include making adjustments to several line items including the legal and audit account by $5,000; the street maintenance account by $30,000; the water department repairs and maintenance account by $45,089.57; and the automotive repairs account by $2,444.94.

• Authorized the sale of the town’s former police car, which has previously been declared surplus and put up for bids, to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for $1,500.

• Adopted the travel reimbursement rate of 58.5 cents per mile for municipal officials and personnel who travel on town business during the current calendar year based upon a recommendation from the federal Internal Revenue Service and the state’s Department of Finance Administration.

• Authorized a third phase of improvements to the town’s water well pumping infrastructure, which will eventually allow remote internet-based access to the system that controls Meadville’s potable water supply.

• Voted to replace a roll-up door for the Meadville Fire Department for the area of the building housing the agency’s brush truck. The door will cost $2,135, and a budget amendment will be forthcoming to address the expenditure.

• Discussed the status of a sewer lift station on Union Church Road with Reed telling the board that a motor inside the infrastructure cannot be repaired. The town received two quotes — from Harvey Services Inc., and Cooper Electric — to replace the motor, with aldermen voting to accept the $10,232.36 lowest quote from Harvey.

• Proclaimed the municipality’s observance of National Library Week from Sunday, April 3 through Saturday, April 9.

• Approved the closure of municipal streets for use by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to host the 2022 edition of the Homochitto River Festival in October.

• Heard a report from Reed regarding the town’s outstanding infrastructure indebtedness, including $13,784.14 owed on a Department of Environmental Quality sewer loan and $73,521.41 on a U.S. Department of Agriculture water tank loan.

The next scheduled meeting for the Meadville Board of Aldermen will take place at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12 at town hall.