Orting — The City Council on Wednesday instructed staff to perform additional due diligence before approving a proposed $76,855 contract to harvest trees at the city’s former dump site.

Staff told the council that one bid had been received to harvest and market timber from the old dump area; the contract would be paid from timber sale proceeds and is structured as budget‑neutral in staff materials. The scope offered by the contractor included harvesting, marketing and site cleanup at no net cost to the city if timber sale revenue covers the contractor’s costs.

Council members raised environmental and regulatory concerns tied to prior uses of the site. The site historically hosted a disposal area and a firing‑range; councilors asked whether the contractor’s scope included assessments for lead or other contaminants, and whether harvesting and removal could trigger cleanup or permitting obligations under state or county environmental regulations. Several councilors who had experience with timber and land management recommended obtaining a timber “cruise” — an independent inventory and appraisal of timber volume and species — before agreeing to a harvest contract, to verify likely revenue and to avoid unexpected change orders.

Action: The council returned the item to staff and the CGA committee for further study. Staff was asked to contact relevant regulatory agencies (including the Department of Ecology and Pierce County) to confirm any permitting or remediation obligations that could affect costs and timelines, and to provide timber inventory information or an independent valuation before the council considers a contract award.

Why it matters: Harvesting timber at a former dump can expose the city to environmental remediation obligations and unexpected costs; an inaccurate revenue estimate could leave the city liable for cleanup or contract shortfalls. Councilors emphasized caution due to possible contamination, erosion risk on steep slopes, and the potential for permitting or remediation requirements that could substantially increase costs.

Next step: Staff will investigate regulatory obligations, obtain a timber cruise or independent valuation, and return with a revised recommendation and risk assessment to the appropriate committee.