Label
DPU121019SINKHOLES&DUCTBANKREPAIRS
WATER RECLAMATION
Mike Schreidah (x2607)
Title
Authorizing the expenditure in an amount not to exceed $315,000 from the Sewer Operating Fund to pay Geo. Gradel Co. and other contractors for emergency repairs related to the Sinkholes and Electrical Duct Bank at the Water Reclamation Plant; waiving competitive procurement provisions of TMC Chapter 187; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The Water Reclamation Plant is powered by a 69,000 Volt First Energy Substation, located at the Plant. The substation directly serves the General Electric electrical switchgear and the Point 8 Power electrical switchgear. Both electrical switchgears and associated circuit breakers are constantly monitored by First Energy's Wadsworth Control Center (WCC) in Akron, Ohio. The Plant suffered two separate power outages over the last 15 months due to electrical cables burnout in the underground electrical duct bank that runs from the Electrical Substation to the Point 8 Power electrical switchgear. These outages resulted in loss of Utility power and triggered the backup generators to come online. The damaged power cables were isolated after each event, and Utility power was restored. Recently, two sinkholes appeared around a sewer manhole located near the underground electrical duct bank. The sinkholes got bigger, and the Division became concerned that these sinkholes could undermine the underground electrical duct bank. The Division contacted area contractors and requested informal construction bids. Geo. Gradel Co. submitted the lowest bid, and was selected by the Division to expedite the emergency repairs. They vacuum excavated a 14' by 20' by 10' area to avoid disturbing the underground electrical duct bank. They found the problem at the sewer manhole, where water was leaking back into the ground, thus causing the sinkholes. The repair work included vacuum excavation, replacement of the sewer manhole and piping, and res...
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