Flush with extra budget after unexpected savings on a project, the city of Fulton is planning a series of repairs to its sewer system.
Should the City Council approve the contract, Fulton will partner with contractor Visu-Sewer to scope out the sewers, clearing blockages and relining problem pipes. The updates are much needed and overdue, according to interim city engineer Kyle Bruemmer and utilities superintendent Darrell Dunlap.
"The great majority of the city's sewer is still clay tile pipe," Bruemmer said Tuesday. "When that clay cracks, roots get in those cracks."
That allows stormwater to infiltrate the pipes, putting a greater burden on the city's water treatment system. It also causes blockages.
"We've had backups in peoples' basements," Dunlap said.
During Tuesday's City Council meeting, councilors moved to table discussion of the contract with Visu-Sewer for the next meeting. Several council members were absent, and John Braun, who made the motion to table, said he wanted to make sure everyone had input and complete information.
Budget shuffle
In total, the city expects to spend $300,000 on reducing rainwater inflow and infiltration, plus an additional $700,000 on addressing other problem areas in the sewer - a whopping $1 million. But the money's in the budget, according to City Administrator Bill Johnson.
Typically, city officials budget about $200,000-$300,000 per year for sewer maintenance. But in 2018, the city faced spending an estimated $1.6 million on a complete revamp of the Route O lift station, which was hopelessly out of date. Officials set aside the $1.6 million in 2019's budget.
Earlier this year, the engineering department found an alternative company to partner with on the project.
"They're completing it for less than $800,000," Johnson said Wednesday. "Since the extra was in the budget, that's where we're getting the additional funds to make numerous repairs in the sanitation system and keep sewage out of basements."
The plan
An assessment by contractor Burns and McDonnell aided the city in mapping out which areas of town have the most sewer issues. Visu-Sewer will be tasked with scoping out those hotspots and determining the source of the issues.
That could be anything from a tree root jamming up the pipe, to major cracks, a faulty service connection with a homeowner's system. The Visu-Sewer bid includes pricing for fixing pretty much any conceivable issue.
"We'll identify and alleviate the blockages along the way," Bruemmer said.
Areas that are cracked but not completely structurally compromised will receive new linings.
"It's like putting a sock into the pipe, which then hardens like fiberglass," Dunlap said. "It's a cheaper option when the pipe is structurally OK."
Re-lining pipes should also appeal to homeowners in the problem areas, since it doesn't involve digging up people's yards to access the sewer lines.
"Around Bartley (Elementary), some of the lines are in backyards," Bruemmer pointed out. "If we were to dig up and replace those, that'd be a big project in someone's yard."
Areas already singled out for special attention include:
The area south of Fulton Middle School loosely bounded by East 10th, State, Second and Nichols streets.
The area around Bartley, bounded by Ravine Street, Mokane Road, Schultze Street and Churchill Drive.
The area south of Old Jefferson City Road, bounded by South Business 54, Glenstone Drive and Collier Lane.
The area north of Bush Elementary, bounded by St. Louis Road, Bradley Lane and Kathy Street.
The neighborhood bounded by Meadowlark Lane, North Bluff Street, Church Street and North School Boulevard.
The area north of Fulton High School and south of East St. Eunice Road.
In some cases, problems with the city's sewer lines originate elsewhere. Homeowners technically own the pipes connecting their sewage system to the city's, and sometimes a tree root or other blockage source from the homeowner side will enter the city's pipes.
Dunlap said that in those cases, the city will notify the homeowner, who might not be aware of the issue.
As of yet, there is no concrete timetable for when the repairs will begin. The contract under review by City Council may be renewed annually for up to four additional years.
"It depends on when we can tell them to get started," Bruemmer said. "Lining can't be done in the winter, which could delay the project. There's plenty to keep them busy."