Village approves emergency funds to replace collapsed stormwater pipe on East Capitol Drive

The Village Board of the Village of Heartland approved emergency use of fund balance on a motion Tuesday to replace a collapsed storm sewer between 140 and 150 East Capitol Drive after staff reported large sinkhole activity next to a private parking lot. Public works staff member Tom told the board a televised inspection showed a failure in an old clay pipe and that “the pipe is collapsed… it's a 24 inches pipe. It's 160 feet long,” drawing attention to the volume of runoff that pipe carries. The board approved the emergency funding after Tom said contractor quotes remain uncertain. "They're looking…their number is more around $50,000," he said, adding that earlier conservative estimates put the work as high as $75,000 to $100,000 once pavement, sidewalk, and trench restoration are counted. Staff said R and M will prepare prints to ensure pitch and elevation are correct, and the village will solicit contractors once designs are returned. Tom said the village has stabilized the area for now by placing larger cobblestone material to prevent further washout while crews prepare to excavate and replace the pipe. "We stabilize it as much as we can for now until we excavate and put a new pipe in," he said. Board members asked about interim stabilization and timing; staff replied that the side stabilization work had been completed, but that finding a contractor at the end of the construction season may delay full replacement. The village also noted that the pipe runs under private property where no formal easement exists, meaning the village must replace disturbed private surfaces as part of the work. The motion to approve use of fund balance for the emergency stormwater pipe replacement passed unanimously. Staff said R and M would deliver final prints and the village would then solicit and award a contract consistent with the board's emergency authorization. The board did not adopt a final contract or set a fixed total price at Tuesday's meeting; staff will return with contractor bids and an updated cost estimate. The village also said it will notify affected property owners about excavation and surface restoration plans.