Council approves $1.835 million contract to replace north transmission line at water treatment plant

The Anacortes City Council voted June 16 to award a $1,835,340 contract to Strider Construction to construct the North Line repair at the city’s water treatment plant.

Public Works Director Andy Rayum said the 36‑inch treated water north transmission line suffered a failure in 2023 that was temporarily patched; the permanent repair will replace the affected segment, relocate a meter vault that sits near a sinkhole, and install a new meter vault set farther from unstable ground. Rayum said the sinkhole appeared during a high‑water event in the Skagit valley and that staff have been monitoring the area since the temporary repair.

Rayum told council Strider was the only bidder and that the low bid was approximately $400,000 above the engineer’s estimate. Councilmember Walters asked whether the city had further explanation for the sinkhole; Rayum said high river levels in the Skagit Valley have caused similar ground instability in other locations and that the city patrols the property while river levels are high.

Councilmember Walters moved to authorize the mayor to sign the contract; Councilmember Hubick seconded. The clerk called the vote: Walters, Cleland McGrath, Moulton, Hubick and Fantini voted yes; the motion carried.

Rayum said the permanent fix will reduce the risk of future failures and move critical meters out of the sinkhole area. The project was added into the capital facilities plan in 2024 and designed together with related meter work; staff said the construction will proceed under the awarded contract.