GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The City Council got good and bad news Tuesday night.

First, the good news. They learned the county was responsible for most of the $800,000 for the relocation of a water main on the south right-of-way on County Road 209 North (Russell Road). But they learned some bad news when Assistant Water Utilities Director Scott Schultz told the council it was going to cost the city about $100,000 to replace the water mains in two locations in the city’s easement.

Shultz said the 22-inch pipe was more than 20 years old and not encased in a sleeve, which would have redirected water away from the road in case of a breakage. Moreover, the pipe was only 22 inches from the pavement.

“Our pipe is only 22 inches under the asphalt, which is nowhere near our clearance,” Schultz said. “Now this pipe is over 20 years old, so we had to decide. Do we want to move this alignment further and leave the pipe close to the surface? This decision was going to spend all this money widening this road. This pipe is not in a sleeve. Usually, we would go under a big road.

“Russell Road did not used to be a new road. You would put the pipe in the sleeve where something happened. The water would go away from the asphalt when this pipe is not in the sleeve, so the decision was made. It doesn't matter whose fault it is. It's our utility. We needed to drill under and get completely away from all the utilities and install that pipe. So, that's the nature of the emergency.”

There was no push-back from the council, since any delays only added to the frustrations of residents angered by roadwork on the south side of the county, including Russell Road, County Road 220 and County Road 315.

In other business:

• The council approved a payment to Kirby Development of $231,803.85 for the Julia Street Stormwater Improvement Project.

• Approved the payment of $239,289.29 to Besch and Smith for West Street CDBG Stormwater Improvements and Highland Sidewalk Improvements.

• Approved a payment of $30,578.23 to Sawcross for sludge processing improvements for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, State Revolving fund and Harbor Road Water Reclamation Facility Expansion Phase 2.

• Approved a street closure and fee waiver request for CalaVida Festival.

• Approved a Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved the Communicating with the Public Guidelines.

• Authorized to submit a Florida Boating Improvement Plan grant application to the Florida Wildlife Commission to fund the City Pier extension completion.

The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall at 6 p.m.