OTTUMWA — Larry Seals said the “sins of the past” showed up and repairs at Pennsylvania Avenue and Jefferson Street cost more because the right thing wasn’t done years ago.

Seals is the city’s public works director. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting he explained the emergency replacement of a manhole north of the busy northside intersection.

“High rain events that began June 8 contributed to the undermining of the existing brick manhole,” Seals said. “This is a 20-foot brick manhole and the sides had washed out and it ultimately collapsed.”

The manhole services part of the Ottumwa Regional Health Center area and Ottumwa Manor.

Southern Iowa Mechanical of Ottumwa reconstructed the storm line from the intake on Pennsylvania, connected into a new manhole, rebuilt the flow line and repaved the concrete parking lot located behind the Lady Fit building at 1207 N. Jefferson St.

“This manhole had been raised over time and required the removal of additional parking lot and fill to reach the flow line area,” Seals said.

Councilman Mitch Niner asked if the manhole was in the street.

Seals said it was 20-25 feet north of Pennsylvania and Jefferson streets and went in behind the former Greenbriar building.

Councilman Keith Caviness asked if the lower-level parking lot there had been finished.

Seals said the lot had been restored and this is where those “sins” come in.

“They shouldn’t have allowed the fill. They put it on top of the sewer lines and that caused expensive repairs now,” he said.

The city had to spend $3,700 on pavement, Seals added.

The council unanimously approved payments of $6,175 and $7,973.28 to Southern Iowa Mechanical.

Members also approved:

• Payment to Southern Iowa Mechanical for street patch repairs to the North Court access road under the Expanded Street Use Program. The work extended from West Rochester Street to the new Clemons dealership entrance. Repairs totaled $40,844.30.