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ELKINS – Elkins City Council approved waiving the bidding process for “emergency sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements” on Capitol Street after existing lines collapsed under an Elkins residence.
During the most recent meeting, the nine present council members voted in favor of Resolution 1957, which waives competitive bidding and authorizes the execution of an agreement with Triple H Construction Company for “emergency sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements” at 635 Capitol Street. Third Ward Council member Christopher Lowther was absent from the meeting.
According to Resolution 1957, which was recommended by the Municipal Properties Committee, the City of Elkins has identified existing sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure located beneath a residence at 635 Capitol Street.
The City believes the infrastructure’s existing condition requires “prompt attention” and officials have proposed rerouting the existing 8-inch sanitary sewer and 18-inch stormwater infrastructure to a new alignment and reconnecting the systems to existing public infrastructure. The City of Elkins Street Department and Wastewater Department will jointly coordinate this project with the selected contractor, Triple H Construction Company.
The resolution states West Virginia Code “expressly provides” that emergency repairs are exempt from bidding requirements when the statutory emergency standard is satisfied, and the city has reviewed the applicable provisions of Elkins City Code concerning competitive bidding. This section of city code provides for the waiver of competitive bidding when “the procurement of the contemplated services is of such urgency as to brook no delay.”
The agenda item report for Resolution 1957 states the fiscal impact of this resolution will be $26,240. The cost will be divided equally between the General Fund and the Sanitary Fund, along with the additional cost of pipes, manhole covers and related infrastructure components “that will be procured by the Wastewater and/or Street Departments during the project.”
Before council voted on the measure, Fifth Ward Council member Cody Thompson asked for clarification as to what will be done with the infrastructure under 635 Capitol Street. Wastewater System Chief Operator Whitney Hymes explained the home was built over top of the existing infrastructure, but since then those lines under the residence have collapsed.
“To help the city infrastructure, we’re going to reroute that (the sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure) down the city alley, cut across the private property, and tie into existing sewer and stormwater access there in the street,” Hymes told council.
Thompson then asked if the old lines will be capped off. Hymes explained the sewer line will have to remain open as the home still uses it, and whether or not to cap the stormwater line will be left to the discretion of the Street Department. She noted her department will be adding an additional sewer tap into the sanitary drain in case the homeowner wants to attach to the other line later on.
Thompson and several other council members questioned how it was ever allowed for a house to be built over existing infrastructure. Hymes joked that it was because the city did not have Property Maintenance Code Official Jessie Kittle back when the house was built, earning a laugh from everyone, including Kittle, who was present. Hymes then noted that 635 Capitol Street was not the only home in Elkins that was built over existing infrastructure.
The Elkins City Council will meet again on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.