A 42-inch wastewater pipeline at the City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) began leaking severely within the last week such that it was removed from service to prevent flooding and potential damage to other plant utilities.  Returning the pipeline to service is critical for effectively treating sewage.  City staff is closing in on several options that would repair the leaking pipe.  

Competitive bidding of this work requires an advertising and award process that would delay the repair several weeks which would impact operations at the WWTP.  According to 7-5-4303 MCA, emergency purchases may be handled in a way that best meets the emergency if approved by three-fourths of the members of the City Council present at the meeting and duly recorded in the minutes of the meeting.  According to Purchasing Procedure VII.7, Emergency Procedures, the requirement for sealed bids for purchases over $20,000 may be waived and an emergency purchase may be made in the fastest possible manner if authorized by City Council resolution and recorded in the minutes.

City Council may:

• Approve the resolution, or;
• Disapprove the resolution.  If the resolution is not approved and the leaking pipeline is not placed back in service, the water reclamation facility cannot effectively treat sewage.

City staff is completing final evaluations of several options that would repair or replace the leaking pipe.  Cost of the work is estimated at approximately $125,000 and the source of the funds is the FY 2017 wastewater budget.

Staff recommends that Council approve a Resolution declaring an emergency repair of the pipeline at the WWTP and waive the requirement for competitive bids as contained in 7-5-4302 and 7-5-4303 MCA.