Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $83,664 engineering change order for Willow Yucca LID after storm‑sewer conflict found
Summary
Sweet Home city council approved an $83,664 engineering change order to resolve a storm‑drain/sewer conflict in the Willow Yucca Local Improvement District; the vote was 6–1.
The Sweet Home City Council on April 13 approved an $83,664 change order to engineering plans for the Willow Yucca Local Improvement District (LID) after staff and consultants identified a conflict between a proposed storm drain and the sanitary sewer on Eighteenth Avenue.
City staff said the conflict, if left uncorrected, could increase the risk of wastewater overflows affecting nearby properties and the South Santiam River. A staff presenter said the change order would add a new outlet structure and modify the storm system to eliminate the conflict and improve long‑term service, and that the revision would delay construction by about six months.
“By law, the terms of the loan require costs to be passed on to the residents,” the staff member said, noting the project is supported by a loan through the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority and an earlier ordinance establishing the LID (Ord. No. 1297). Staff said they expect to use system development charges (SDCs) and loan adjustments to limit direct cost increases for homeowners, but that the final resident share is not yet known.
Council debate focused on cost risk to residents. Councilor Augsberger said she was “very concerned about what type of cost we’re going to run into” and added, “I don't believe that the $2,300,000 will be enough,” and said she would vote no. Councilor Richards said infrastructure should be the city’s top priority and announced a yes vote.
The council voted 6–1 to approve the engineering change order; Councilor Sanchez cast the lone no vote. Councilors who voted yes were President Pro Tem Thorstad, Mayor Susan Coleman, Councilor Augsberger, Councilor Bronson, Councilor Hagee and Councilor Richards; Councilor Sanchez voted no.
The staff report to council noted the LID was formed after a 2019 petition, authorized by ordinance No. 1297 in June 2021, and partially financed in August 2023 by a loan through the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority. The change order was submitted by the project engineer (excerpted in the council packet) and is intended to resolve the identified utility conflict prior to construction.
Council asked staff to continue seeking ways to minimize any financial impact on residents and to return with final cost allocation details as the reengineered scope is priced.
