Richland County approves change order to replace deteriorated manhole, add isolation valves at wastewater project

Amanda Miller, director of Richland County’s wastewater treatment plant, asked the commissioners to approve a change order after contractors and engineers identified a deteriorated manhole on Myers Avenue that cannot safely receive a force-main tie-in.

“This manhole has deteriorated to the point that if they do try to tie into that, it is going to fail,” Miller said, describing the risk to the existing force main and explaining why the county will not proceed with the originally planned tie-in.

Miller described the county’s planned corrective sequence: install a new "dog house" manhole ahead of the deteriorated structure, construct the new manhole around the sanitary line, core or tap the new force main into that structure, then cut, cap and abandon the old line and manhole. She also requested adding isolation valves so crews can localize shutoffs for testing and future repairs, an improvement identified during required force-main testing.

When asked about funding, Miller confirmed the work will be paid from wastewater capital funds rather than the general fund. Commissioners signaled assent in the meeting transcript and voiced support while no detailed dollar amounts were provided in the discussion.

Miller said the project remains moving forward overall but cautioned that cold weather could affect some surface work such as asphalt; she and the board indicated they prefer to address the force-main and valve items now while construction activity is underway at both pump stations.

The board’s approval will allow the contractor to proceed with the specified corrective work and valve installations; the transcript indicates the change order request was presented and accepted for action at the meeting but does not record a separate roll-call tally for this item.