The Lewiston City Council on Oct. 13 approved a deferred relocation agreement with Rogers Motors Inc. and accepted a public stormwater utility and access easement that together set terms for relocating a storm drain running beneath the dealership.

Dustin Johnson, public works director, told the council the buried storm drain dates to mid-20th-century construction practice and now exceeds design life. "Some of the pipes are in better condition than others," Johnson said. He explained the line runs parallel to 20 First Street beneath multiple parcels and daylights into a storm pond near Sunset Park. Relocating the line would allow it to be shallower and moved clear of buildings.

Under the agreement, the city will plan and mitigate the relocation over the next 10 years and will cover the majority of project costs through the stormwater utility; Rogers Motors will contribute $150,000. Johnson said a single, coordinated project is preferable to piecemeal fixes because the pipe crosses several private properties and is deep in places (he compared it to other very deep lines downtown).

City Attorney Jennifer Tangano was present for legal questions; councilors and staff recounted a history of intermittent agreements going back decades, including a 2007 resolution for prior arrangements. Johnson said the city's newly formed stormwater utility provides a current funding source for the work.

Councilor Schroeder moved to approve the deferred relocation agreement and authorize the mayor to sign it; the motion passed by voice vote with Council President Klieberg, Councilor Wright, Councilor Corson, Councilor Forsman and Councilor Schroeder each responding "Aye." The council then approved Resolution 2025-41 accepting the public stormwater utility and access easement by the same voice vote.

Why it matters: The buried storm drain sits under commercial buildings on a major corridor. A failure would likely affect properties and public infrastructure; the agreement lays out cost sharing, an easement and a timeline that gives the city time to design and budget the relocation.

Details and limits: Johnson said parts of the line are roughly 20 feet deep and that rerouting could make the pipe shallower and move it away from structures. He described prior property encumbrances and agreements stretching back 40–50 years and said some records (older easements) were hard to find. The agreement gives the city use of the easement area and a timeline to fund and construct the relocation; it does not obligate immediate construction.

Next steps: With council approval the city will record the easement and proceed with design and budgeting work using the stormwater utility funding stream and the private contribution. No construction schedule was set at the meeting.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A by Dustin Johnson; legal comments from Jennifer Tangano; council motions and votes Oct. 13, 2025.