Subject:
Title
Request approval of an agreement with Fairfax County for inspection and potential repair of Piney Branch-Difficult Run trunk sewers.
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The Town of Vienna and Fairfax County have been working on a joint project to assess the condition of Town-owned out-of-Town sewers that carry sewerage to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Town constructed these out-of-Town sewers in the early 1960s.
On December 16, 1963, the Town and county entered into an agreement for operation and maintenance of the Piney Branch and Difficult Run trunk sewers. Under the agreement, the county is responsible for 63.19% of operation and maintenance costs while Vienna is responsible for 36.81% of costs but has ownership of the trunk sewers.
Ordinarily, the Town of Vienna would arrange for a consultant to inspect the sewer facilities and then include the county’s allocated share of actual costs for inspection and any repairs and replacement in the next quarterly bill submitted to the county, in accordance with the terms of the agreement. This would mean that the Town of Vienna would have to bear the full up-front cost for inspection (currently estimated to exceed $700,000). Since, the county uses a majority of the capacity in the trunk sewers and has extensive in-house staff and consultant expertise in inspection of trunk sewers, Fairfax County is willing to take the lead on this inspection.
Therefore, the county will retain a consultant to perform inspection of the trunk sewers. The Town of Vienna and Fairfax County will confer regarding the extent of any needed repairs or replacements based on inspection results. By identifying any locations that need repair or rehabilitation, this inspection also will help to avoid any emergencies or sewer service outages affecting the county’s and Town’s respective customers.
Once conditions of the trunk sewers are determined and necessary repairs made, Town and county staff will work on updating the 1963 agreement to modify cost-sharing and maintenance responsibilities moving forward.
Funding is available in the 2020 CIP.
Departmental Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Finance Recommendation: Recommend approval of agreement.
Purchasing Recommendation: N/A
Town Attorney Recommendation: The Town may enter into an agreement with Fairfax County to inspect the joint sewer lines identified in the discretion of Town Council.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council approve an agreement with Fairfax County for inspection and potential repair of Piney Branch-Difficult Run trunk sewers and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement, as presented.
Cost and Financing: not to exceed $258,000
Account Number: CIP to be determined
Decision Needed by This Date: 01/06/20
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to approve an agreement with Fairfax County for inspection and potential repair of Piney Branch-Difficult Run trunk sewers and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement pending final legal review by the Town Attorney."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.