This request pertains to a necessary repair to the sanitary sewer service lateral for the residence located at 344 NE 5th St.  The 4” clay service lateral appears to have separated at a joint under the roadway which has resulted in chronic sewage drainage problems for the residence.  Historically, this hasn’t proven problematic as the residence was vacant for an extended period but is now occupied and sewage is backing up into the bathtub. 

US Water has successfully cleared the line by jetting on multiple occasions in recent months.  However, jetting is no longer working as the head is unable to penetrate the blockage. US Water attempted access to the lateral a few weeks ago and encountered a fiber-optic duct bank (which complicated the work) but the excavation pit became too deep and saturated for their crews to safely proceed.   The 8” gravity main is located at the center of the paved roadway and is approximately 7’ deep at the service lateral wye.  Since the repair depth exceeds 5’ in depth, Florida Trench Safety Act requirements must be satisfied as necessary to protect workers from side slope cave-ins; this repair project also includes specialty roadway open-cut restoration work. 

US Water attempted to secure three quotes but the third contractor was deemed non-responsive after failing to schedule a site visit despite numerous follow-up attempts; the two (2) quotes obtained are: 

Central Florida Site Pros, Inc. = $14,800.00
Oxford Pipeline, Inc. = $16,600.00

This repair project was initially intended to be presented for Council consideration during the September 27, 2021 as a non-emergency FY2021 purchase but was delayed awaiting the third quote.  A sewage backup occurred again on Monday, October 4, 2021 and the jetting effort did not clear the blockage.  On October 6, 2021, with the third quote still not received, the DPW Director deemed the repair an emergency due to health and safety concerns for the affected residents and requisitioned a Purchase Order to Central Florida Site Pros, Inc. in the amount of $14,800.00 seeking authorization from the City Manager to proceed with the emergency repair.  

The City Manager ultimately approved the request and the PO was issued.  Pursuant to Section 5.D of the City’s Purchasing Policy, Staff now seeks Council approval and affirmation of the administrative action which authorized the emergency repair work.