Light pole sinks into sanitary sewer resulting in unexpected expense for Aberdeen

Elisa Sand, Aberdeen News
·2 min read
Gaa
Gaa

The Aberdeen City Council will have an extra project to budget for after a light pole dropped through the surface along Roosevelt Street into a sanitary sewer line.

City Manager Joe Gaa gave the council some forewarning about the project at Monday's meeting. The work includes the replacement of 1,500 feet of sanitary sewer line on Roosevelt Street south of Sixth Avenue Southeast, he said.

About a month ago, the city engineering department noticed a photo of a light pole in a presentation that showed the pole was only about 6 feet above ground, Gaa said. The rest of the pole was inside a sanitary storm sewer line that is about 18 feet deep. Repairs have since been made, but Gaa said now there's ground collapse in the area.

"It's come to our attention that line is no longer viable," he said.

While the city has lined old sanitary sewer pipes with a resin liner that can offer reinforcement, Gaa said the old cement pipe is too far gone for that.

Bid opening for the project is set for June 14. Gaa said the council will eventually hear a presentation about how the city plans to finance the job. A cost is not yet known.

More: Aberdeen 15-year-old recognized for lifesaving CPR on mom after heart attack, stroke

In other action, the council:

  • Approved the purchase of two new Toro Groundmaster 3300 mowers for $62,517 from a Minnesota state bid contract. The mowers will replace current machines that are nine years old. Delivery is expected in early 2023.

  • Approved a $65,196 payment to CWF Masonry for accessible quadrant work.

  • Approved a $55,748 change order reducing the final cost of traffic signal work at Melgaard Road and South Lawson Street. A temporary signal was not available from the state, lowering the cost. A final payment of $4,408 was made to Ringgenberg Electric.

  • Heard a presentation about a planned Junedeenth celebration on June 19 at Central Park. The spelling of the event is intentional as a way for Aberdeen to take ownership of the celebration, which will include grilling, yard games and an open mic for entertainment. The event is from noon to 8 p.m.

  • Ron Krogman from the local 40 & 8 organization presented a Heroine of the Year award to Emma Keefe, who saved the life of her mother after she performed CPR.

  • Approved first reading of an ordinance that eliminates 22 duplicate sections of city ordinances and a section of the city code that was in two different sections of city ordinances.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect only one light pole dropped through the sanitary sewer line,

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: City to add sanitary sewer line replacement project this year