Emergency sewer line repair costs in Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich village board trustees have authorized that a maximum of $1.5 million can be borrowed - if necessary - to pay for unexpected repairs to a sanitary sewer transmission line.

Village board members Monday night voted 5-0 in favor of allowing for the potential to borrow for the work to repair the sanitary transmission line under East Cuba Road near Old McHenry Road.

Last month, the village board approved the release of an initial $611,230 for the job that Berger Excavating had started. However, officials said, additional sections of the sewer pipe near the intersection were examined with a camera and deemed to be in need of emergency repairs.

Director of Community Services Michael Earl said there may not be enough money in the water and sewer fund to cover the unforeseen expense, which is why the village needs the flexibility to borrow if needed.

"We don't yet know what the final price will be," Earl told the village board. "And that ($1.5 million) gives us a little bit of a cushion."

Earl said Lake Zurich will save money in the long run by repairing the deteriorated line at once instead of in stages.

"It's unfortunate, obviously, that this happened," he said, "and it's an expense that wasn't planned for."

Public Works Manager Michael Brown said deodorizing "pucks" have been dropped where the work is occurring in an effort to tamp down odors from the sanitary sewer line under repair.

Earl said the work on the extra section of line should start next week. He said the job could last several weeks.

Trustee Jeffrey Halen said the village board should explore ways to cut costs in the 2016-17 budget to help make up for the unexpected sewer line repair costs.