Hearing set for second phase of sewer lining project

A public hearing will be held during the Tuesday, March 17, Greenfield City Council meeting on the second phase of rehabilitation to the city’s sewer system.

The hearing will cover the proposed plans and specifications, form of contract and estimated cost.

The work includes approximately 28,000 linear feet of cured-in-place pipe lining for 6- through 15-inch pipe, three internal point repairs, nine dig repairs, eight new manholes and replacement of about 212 feet of 12-inch sewer.

Slip lining inserts a smaller new pipe or liner into an existing, deteriorating pipe, and the space between them is sealed. The process has a positive, noninvasive effect on infrastructure because it does not require extensive excavation.

The council also approved seeking bids for the project at its last meeting. The project was originally approved before the May 2024 tornado but was later put on hold.

“We have a $1 million forgivable loan for this that we need to commit to by the end of this year,” City Administrator Michelle Carns said. “That takes a lot of heavy lifting off the city. We’ll continue looking for other funding sources, but for right now, will look to fund this through a sewer revenue bond.”

Carns said a sewer revenue bond would likely mean sewer rates could increase 10% over the next three years. The city remains down 30%-40% in sewer hookups compared with pre-tornado levels. She emphasized the improvements involve infrastructure currently in use.

“At some point those rates might be able to come down, but this is really critical infrastructure,” Carns said. “This particular contract would carry liquidated damages of $500 a day, which is double what the fire station has. We want to be covered on something like that.”

In other action, the council:

• approved hiring a new police officer, pending satisfactory test results

• approved an extension of the downtown revitalization project to May

• approved a $90,105 pay application to Graphite Construction; city officials said they are watching progress on the fire station rebuild closely

• approved payment of $2,130 for the downtown facade project

• approved the following appointments to the new parks and recreation board: Nancy Antisdel (1 year), John Twombly (2 years), Gene Hardisty (2 years), Dave Metzger (3 years) and Heather Shaull (3 years)