Township water line installed in 1978 must be relocated
An error in the placement of a 1,000-foot water line in a ditch along Rawsonville Road in Sumpter Township could be a public safety hazard and must be relocated.
The question facing the members of the township board of trustees is which government entity installed the line in 1978 and could therefore be responsible for the expense of the relocation. Members of the board discussed the issue during the regular meeting Sept. 12 and agreed to fund the design and preparation of bid specifications for the relocation of the line. The contract with Hennessey Engineers, approved by a 5-2 vote of the trustees, limits the cost to “up to $25,000.”
The error in location of the water line was discovered by workers from Washtenaw County working in another section of the ditch along Rawsonville Road.
Trustees Don LaPorte and Peggy Morgan cast the two dissenting votes on the engineering contract. During the extensive discussion, LaPorte was adamant that the board should determine whether the township or Wayne County installed the water line in the ditch during the 1978 project. That would be a factor in determining the financial responsibility for the relocation, La Porte said. The relocation and installation of the water line is estimated to cost $400,000, officials said.
Trustee Matt Oddy agreed that the responsible entity should be identified but noted that the issue is now an emergency situation. The water line, he said, is not deeply installed in the ditch close to the road but is only covered with a shallow layer of dirt. He said that should a vehicle lose control and slide or drive into the ditch, the water line could be damaged, resulting in a service interruption to township residents.
Wayne County Commissioner Al Haidous attended the meeting and discussed the issue with members of the board. He asked the board members to supply him with any and all records that might still be available regarding the 45-year-old project. Board members agreed that Sumpter Township could not have installed the lines in 1978 without approval from Wayne County officials.
A Wade Trim specification drawing for the water line was located by members of the township staff but no record of inspections or further documentation was located.
Haidous asked to schedule a meeting for more discussion and information. The 1978 documents will be provided to him for further investigation. No date for a meeting was established.
