Weber County hears LMSA request to expand ARPA-funded line repairs, officials say scope still under review

Weber County commissioners on May 12 reviewed a request from Lehi-Morgan Sewer (LMSA) to change the scope of an ARPA-funded lagoon rehabilitation project to include acquisition, inspection and repair of three lateral sewer lines feeding an LMSA lagoon system.

LMSA representatives told the commission that as field work advanced they discovered lines with infiltration that had not been inspected in the original scope. Stephanie Russell, speaking on LMSA’s behalf, said the board elected to acquire two lines previously outside LMSA ownership (a line to Westinghouse and a problematic Rob Howard lateral) and to inspect a third lateral that was not inspected in initial scoping. "We've come way under budget on this project. So we'd like to ask for a change of scope of work on this particular one, on the infiltration piece," Russell said.

Russell walked commissioners through the financial impact: the original county ARPA allocation for the project was $250,000. She said adding acquisition, inspection and repair of the three lines would bring the specific project budget to about $214,015 and that LMSA expected to remain under the original county ARPA allocation while completing the additional work. She also said the acquisition of at least one of the problem lines would not have a purchase price; the property owner had agreed to deed the lateral and associated easements to LMSA.

Commissioners asked how the additional ownership would affect service fees and whether LMSA would reassess fees to ensure LMSA is made whole for acquisition and ongoing maintenance. Staff and LMSA representatives said the district is conducting a fee assessment and considering impact fees for future users of the line; the presenters said current users would see fee adjustments as part of the district's fiscal plan. Commissioners also asked about schedule: staff said line inspections could be completed in weeks and repairs bid and completed within a month after inspection in the district's recent experience.

The meeting also covered a related state-appropriated portion of the lagoon rehabilitation, which staff said is larger and includes a state DWQ discharge permit requirement that has required scope revisions. Staff described the state appropriation as substantially larger and said much of the state funds would be directed to a lift station and conveyance work that would serve Promontory Commerce Center and Central Weaver facilities. Staff characterized changes as favorable to the county, noting a reduction in projected county ARPA spend for the lagoon rehabilitation from earlier county estimates.

No formal vote to approve the LMSA scope change is recorded in the meeting transcript. Commissioners expressed general support but asked staff to track procurement timelines and federal/state ARPA expenditure deadlines. Staff confirmed county ARPA funds attached to the project have an expenditure deadline consistent with state and federal ARPA rules and that the county will track obligations and reporting requirements if the scope amendment is approved.