Background
A.) Need: This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to modify contracts with The Waterworks (+$250,000), Holdridge Mechanical (+$200,000), and Fox Mechanical (+$50,000) for the Project Dry Basement Program and authorize the expenditure of up to $500,000.00. The purpose of this program is to reduce water-in-basement occurrences within residential homes in the City of Columbus.
Heavy rains in June have resulted in over 125 water-in-basement claims being filed with the Division of Sewerage and Drainage. If all these claims were approved, installation of backwater prevention devices would exhaust all funds remaining on plumbing contracts in place. The department requests authority to increase contracts with The Waterworks, Holdridge Mechanical, and Fox Mechanical, to provide sufficient funding to address the current claims and provide some contingency funding for possible future claims. The department was anticipating rebidding these services early in 2009 and will still do that. Funding requested through this ordinance will allow the continuation of the program until new contracts are in place in 2009.
This Program, begun in 2004, authorized the Director of Public Utilities to enter into necessary agreements with homeowners and contracts with licensed plumbers to perform work related to the installation of devices that are appropriate for the elimination of water in basements (WIBs) in residences within the City of Columbus. These devices will typically include an approved backwater prevention valve; but in some instances may include a sump pump. Sump pumps will be installed only where necessary. Other devices may be considered if deemed necessary to protect a residence from future WIBs.
Eligible residences are single family or duplexes in Columbus that have suffered a WIB after January 1, 2004 caused by a mainline sewer blockage or a mainline sewer surcharge. Backups caused by blockages or other conditions in...
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