Force Main Stabilization Project, USACE Partnership, Request for City Betterment Copyrighted
August 7, 2023
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 022.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Force Main Stabilization Project, USACE Partnership, Requestfor City
Betterment
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending City Council grant authorization to send a
letter to the U. S. Department of the Army for the U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE)to include the design and repair of sanitary sewer
force main joints as part of the Force Main Stabilization Project and for
the mayor to execute the letter.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Supporting Documentation
Letter Supporting Documentation
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Force Main Stabilization Project, USACE Partnership, Request for City
Betterment
DATE: August 2, 2023
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending City Council grant authorization to send a
letter to the U. S. Department of the Army for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) to include the design and repair of sanitary sewer force main joints as part of
the Force Main Stabilization Project and for the mayor to execute the letter.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
John Klostermann, Public Works Director
Teri Goodmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Force Main Stabilization Project, USACE Partnership, Request for City
Betterment
DATE: July 31, 2023
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek authorization to send a letter to the U. S.
Department of the Army for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to include the
design and repair of sanitary sewer force main joints as part of the Force Main
Stabilization Project.
BACKGROUND
The City's 42-inch diameter sanitary sewer force main was constructed in 1977 with
approximately 3,000 feet located along the banks of the Mississippi. It carries
approximately 65 percent (65%) of the City's daily average sewer flows to the Water
and Resource Recovery Center. Over the years, erosion of the banks of the Mississippi
have reduced the ground cover (and protection) to the point where the pipe is exposed
in a few places. Because the flow is under pressure, if the force main was to be
ruptured, it would result in the discharge of thousands of gallons of untreated
wastewater directly into the Mississippi.
In February of 2021, the City adopted Resolution 41-21 authorizing entering into an
agreement with the US Department of the Army for the USACE to proceed with a
planning and design analysis to identify and evaluate alternatives and a
recommendation of a coordinated and implementable solution for the Force Main
Stabilization Project. In March of 2022, the USACE completed its Final Feasibility
Report for the Dubuque Forced Sewer Main identifying improvements to stabilize and
protect the City 42-inch force main. The recommended improvements involve the
placement of approximately 3,000 linear feet of riprap revetment on the eroding bank of
the Mississippi to resist erosive forces and protect the City's sanitary sewer force main.
Section 14 of the Flood Control Act of 1946 (Section 14) authorizes the USACE to
undertake construction, repair, restoration, and modification of emergency streambank
and shoreline protection projects. In March of 2022, the design and construction of the
sanitary sewer Force Main Stabilization Project was approved by the Commander for
Rock Island District of the USACE in accordance with a Project Partnership Agreement
provided by the USACE. Per the Agreement, the estimated cost of the project is
$5,216,000, with the USACE's share projected to be $3,390,400 and the City share
projected to be $1,825,600.
In December of 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 368-22 authorizing the City
to enter into an agreement with the US Department of the Army for the USACE to
design and contract the improvements associated with the City's sanitary sewer Force
Main Stabilization Project.
DISCUSSION
The USACE is working to complete the 65% construction plans and contract documents
for the Sanitary Sewer Force Mains Stabilization Project (the "Project"). City staff
members have been afforded the opportunity to review the plans and provide input. As
part of that process, the condition of exposed sewer joints was discussed. The
consensus was that it would be prudent to make any necessary repairs to those joints
as part of the Project. However, because the sanitary sewer joint repairs fall outside the
scope of the USACE work, the cost of the joint repairs would be entirely the City's
responsibility.
To include the joint repairs in the contract for the Sanitary Sewer Force Mains
Stabilization Project, the City must make the request to the USACE. A letter has been
prepared (see attachment) for the mayor's signature to make such a request.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that the City request that repair to the exposed sanitary sewer force main
pipe joints be included as part of the Sanitary Sewer Force Main Stabilization Project
being designed and constructed by the USACE.
BUDGET IMPACT
The repair of the sanitary sewer force main joints is estimated to cost approximately
$50,000. Funding for the joint repairs will be from the FY23 budget appropriation in the
amount of$1,933,352 for Force Main Stabilization (Project 5581500014).
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request authorization for the mayor to execute the attached letter
requesting that the U.S. Department of the Army include sanitary sewer joint repairs as
part of the Force Main Stabilization Project.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
Cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
John Klostermann, Public Works Director
Teri Goodman, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
2
Dubuque Office of the Mayor
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
July 31, 2023
Colonel Jesse T. Curry
Commander and District Engineer
ATTN: Planning, Programs and Project Management Division
Clock Tower Building
P.O. Box 2004
Rock Island, Illinois 61204-2004
Re: Project Partnership Agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of
Dubuque for the City of Dubuque Forced Sewer Main and Mississippi River
Stabilization Project
The City of Dubuque Forced Sewer Main and Mississippi River Stabilization Project
generally involves reestablishing the section of the west bank of the Mississippi in the
vicinity of the City's 42-inch diameter sanitary sewer force main that was installed circa
1977 that has become exposed at several locations due to erosion through the years. The
work generally entails placing bedding/road stone back over the force main to a depth of
approximately two feet and then placing revetment stone on top and down the slope to the
river bottom.
This letter is to request adding the repair of a limited number of the sanitary sewer joints
to the project. City staff have discussed the request with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
design team. The consensus was that it would be prudent to have the joint repairs made
as part of the project. The City understands that the cost of the joint repairs will be entirely
the City's responsibility as it is outside the scope of the partnership agreement.
Please contact Deron Muehring at dmuehrin@cityofdubuque.org or 563.599.3117 to
discuss this request.
Sincerely,
Brad Cavanagh
Service Peop€e Integrity Responsibility innovation Teamwork