Council approves first-phase engineering for 8th North waterline; bidding and construction admin held

The Preston City Council voted to approve the initial engineering tasks for the 8th North waterline replacement while postponing bidding and construction administrative services pending further cost review. Coulter Hollings of Keller Associates described the project as a 1,600‑ft replacement of aging ductile‑iron pipe that has been prone to failure in clay soils; he told the council, "We can move forward with just the very first thing — the survey — and so that's going to take a few weeks," describing a phased approach so design work can begin while council finalizes scope for bidding and construction administration.

Council members debated the engineering fee level (about 20% of an estimated $300k–$450k construction cost) and whether to remove or delay bidding and administration tasks to reduce near‑term cost. After a failed motion to table for additional information, council approved tasks 1–4 (project management, topography, preliminary and final design) and held tasks 5 and 6; the motion passed with one dissenting vote. Staff said the city might purchase some materials to reduce contractor costs and that the earliest construction estimate remains in the low‑to‑mid hundreds of thousands.