City to spend up to $350,000 for emergency pipe repairs at Government Center

City officials have reprioritized some projects to address the growing concern about corroded pipes at the Government Center on 10th Street.

On Tuesday, Columbus Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to negotiate a contract with Holbrook Service Company Inc., for repairs not exceeding $350,000.

“We had an emergency a few months ago and staff has been working to look into the specifics of what we need to do to try to alleviate that problem and concern,” said City Manager Isaiah Hugley. “... This is simply an estimate of what we think we might need to deal with the problem, $350,000. But of course, we don’t know until they open things up to see.”

The project comes as the Mayor’s Commission on New Government and Judicial Building considers the possibility of renovating or replacing the 46-year-old building, which houses city administrative offices and local courts.

In February, city maintenance employees responded to a leak on the second floor of the east wing of the building. They found a corroded pipe with water heated at 160 degrees, according to city officials.

At a February commission meeting, Hugley said the level of corrosion raised concerns about other pipes throughout the building, as well as the safety of employees and citizens. He said he asked staff to place tape on ceiling tiles so employees would be aware of where pipes are located.

At Tuesday’s meeting, City Engineer Director Donna Newman said Holbrook Service Company would inspect every pipe, and each joint of or the heating system, for corrosion. She said the contractor would replace pipes that are corroded and in danger of failing.

Finance Director Angelica Alexander said money for the project would come out of Other Local Option Sales Tax infrastructure funds allocated each year.

“We’ve been able to rearrange some of the projects that we initially allocated funding for to fund this particular emergency repair,” she said.

One project that the city put off are elevators at Golden Park. Hugley said the pipe repairs are a higher priority.

According to city estimates, there are approximately 200 heating terminals that are currently operational in the tower and both wings of the center. There is one boiler and two hot water distribution pumps that service the entire system and are original to the Government Center. The City has made various upgrades and repairs to this system since 2003.

“With the pressure and temperature of the water flowing through these pipes and the corrosion that has taken place, the pipes could burst in a vulnerable spot and injure employees or citizens in the building,” the resolution reads. “Immediate work is required to repair the hot water piping to a safe condition; therefore, the services are considered an emergency purchase per the Procurement Ordinance.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 5:08 PM with the headline "City to spend up to $350,000 for emergency pipe repairs at Government Center."