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 restoration of the area. The underground electrical duct bank was determined to be intact and not damaged. Additional work will include the removal and replacement of the damaged cables in the underground electrical duct bank, and the testing and commissioning of the electrical monitoring system by First Energy. Utility power was never interrupted during the construction work, which was completed in October 2019. This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $315,000 to pay Geo. Gradel Co. and other contractors for emergency repairs related to the sinkholes and the underground duct bank.
The fiscal impact of this ordinance is as follows:
- The amount of funds requested: n/a
- The expenditure budget line item: 6070-36000-4000507STDSTD
- New revenue generated (operational revenue, grants, if any): none
- Revenue budget line item (if any): none
- Are funds budgeted in the current fiscal year (yes/no)?: no
- Is this a capital project (yes/no)? no
- If yes, is it new or existing (new/existing)? n/a
- What section of the City’s Strategic Plan does this support:
o Excellence in Basic Services (yes/no) yes
o Quality Community Investment (Livable City, Development) (yes/no) yes
o Workplace Culture & Customer Service (yes/no) yes
o Environment (yes/no) yes
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the mayor and the Director of Public Utilities are authorized to waive the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187, and to execute necessary contracts with Geo. Gradel Co. and other contractors for the emergency repairs related to the sinkholes and underground electrical duct bank at the Water Reclamation Plant, subject to approvals by the Director of Finance and the Director of Law.
SECTION 2. That an amount not to exceed $315,000 is authorized for expenditure from the Sewer Operating Fund in account code 6070-36000-4000507STDSTD for the payment for Geo. Gradel Co. and other contractors for the emergency repairs.
SECTION 3. That the Finance Director is authorized to issue his warrant or warrants against the account code identified in Section 1 above, not to exceed $315,000 for the emergency repairs related to the sinkholes and underground electrical duct bank at the Water Reclamation Plant, and to make necessary expenditures in payments of the obligations incurred pursuant to contracts authorized in Section 2 above upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 4. That the ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that this ordinance must be immediately effective in order to maintain the operational integrity of the Water Reclamation Plant, and to maintain compliance with the NPDES discharge permit requirements, as set forth by the Ohio EPA.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 12, nays 0.
Passed: December 10, 2019, as an emergency measure: yeas 12, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: December 11, 2019
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor