The Devine City Council voted to get quotes for the replacement of a 427-foot sewer line during the Regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 21.
The stretch of sewer line along Hwy. 173 that runs toward Devine High School has suffered five blockages over the last six months. Public Works Director Ismael Carrillo said the blockages were increasingly difficult to clear, likely because the line is made from Orangeburg pipe, a precursor to PVC pipe that is made of compressed layers of cardboard and tar.
City Engineer Raul Garcia estimated the project to cost around $45,000, but cautioned that it may be difficult to find a contractor for that price, given that the work is on TxDot’s right-of-way.
The new line must also be laid in the same trench as the existing line.
“The first thing we have to do is apply for a permit to replace that line,” Garcia said, “and of course you have to comply with all the TxDot rules.”
Garcia added that in the past it has sometimes taken up to six weeks to receive a TxDot permit, and that the City would likely have to replace the lawn turf that is dug up during the pipe’s replacement.
“Once we finally get a contractor, what time frame do you foresee this may take, weather permitting?” District 3 Councilman David Espinosa asked.
“Once the contractor gets in there, I’d say maybe three weeks, three to four weeks, to do the actual construction,” Garcia said.
Garcia said he would reach out to several contractors for quotes on the project. If a quote is under $50,000, the Council may elect to accept it. Any work over $50,000 must go through the bidding process.
A motion by Espinosa and District 5 Councilwoman Debra Randall to go out for quotes on replacing the sewer line passed 3-0 with the support of District 2 Councilman Steve Lopez.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer