Richmond council approves emergency Hill Street lift station repairs and 16-inch water‑main work

Mayor Mike Wright and city staff told the Richmond City Council this month that a break in a lift‑station pipe caused sewage to spill into the dry well and left the pumps inoperable, prompting a temporary diesel pump and an emergency repair authorization.

At a February 25 meeting, Councilor Barb Hardwick and City Administrator Tonya Willim described the February 9 incident at the Hill Street lift station. City crews and a temporary portable diesel pump kept flow moving while staff sought a permanent repair. The council unanimously approved a motion to pay about $40,000 for emergency repairs and to transfer $10,000 from the Lift Station Maintenance line to Lift Station Repair. Willim said an insurance claim had been filed and a claim number assigned.

Public works and council members also reported persistent leaks on the city's 16-inch water transmission main. Councilor Deanna Guy explained that the line showed two leaks and that two nearby hydrants would need inserta valves installed before the main work to allow secure isolation of outages. Council voted unanimously to hire MB Construction to repair the 16" main and install the inserta valves while crews were on site.

The city recorded the votes by roll call: Bond, Powell, Guy, Hardwick, Booth, Meier, Kinnard and Peterson voted yes on the Hill Street emergency repair motion and on the 16" main repair authorization. Willim told the council that temporary measures kept the system operating while a longer‑term design and funding strategy would be developed for permanent Hill Street improvements.

Council later authorized engineering work for a new Hill Street lift station (Olsson Associates Work Order No. 21) to develop design documents and funding‑grade plans; that engineering award was presented to the council for approval in July 2020.

What comes next: engineers will complete design milestones and help the city pursue state funding sources. The council directed staff to continue coordination with the insurer regarding replacement costs and to return with firm bids and funding proposals before construction starts.