Broken pipe issue at SportsPlex resolved

Published 3:30 pm Wednesday, March 8, 2023

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During a short Demopolis City Council meeting last Thursday, March 2, Mayor Woody Collins announced that the emergency pipe situation at the SportsPlex has been resolved.

At the February 21 meeting, Collins reported that a pipe underneath the road going into the SportsPlex had broken and that the road on the south side was in danger of being washed out. The cost of the project was $48,704.56.

Collins said the city worked with H&M Construction and quickly fixed the problem. Collins said the floor of the pipe had rusted out and had started to undermine in the ditch. He said he has spoken with H&M and they are trying to come up with a plan to keep the next pipe from eroding away.

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“We’ve got to do something. It’s just going to eat out the bottom of that pipe,” said Collins.

One idea that was considered was pouring concrete under the pipe to prevent issues in the future. Parks and Recreation Director Walker Reynolds said the problem with that idea is that if enough water gets above the concrete, it will create the same problem and the pipe will cave in.

“We will find a solution. The SportsPlex is such a benefit to the community, so whatever it takes to make it happen, we’ll make it happen,” said Collins.

Other items discussed/approved by the Council:

  • The board approved a request from Rhae Darsey with Main Street Demopolis for an entertainment district for Crawfish Boil on March 11, 2023, from noon to 6:00 p.m.

The Demopolis City Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m. The work session begins at 4:45 p.m.