College Place council approves $25,654 contractor bid to resurface Ivy Lane

College Place city council voted May 27 to authorize the public works director to accept a bid from Central Washington Asphalt and resurface Ivy Lane at a cost of $25,654.50.

The resurfacing follows a series of water-main breaks last winter that required repeated repair work along the street, Public Works Director Mike Risatello told the council. "It's been fixed underneath, but the issue is you go out there and it's cut up pretty bad," Risatello said, adding that without resurfacing "the north end of it's gonna be gravel." Council member Williams moved to approve the contract and Council member Boyle seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Council members asked about the repaired pipe's integrity and timing. Risatello said the section to be resurfaced has been repaired and is not expected to require additional digging; he estimated the contractor would mobilize and start work in June. Council member Cleveland asked whether the pipe might fail again; Risatello said the work in that section was completed and the risk for that resurfaced segment was low, though areas farther south could still have issues.

Risatello described the winter condition as severe enough that at one point a sinkhole had opened to roughly the full width of the street. "My estimate was about 70 feet wide," he said when describing the worst of the damage. Council members asked staff to ensure good advance communication with residents who will be affected while the contractor is working.

The council’s authorization directs the public works director or designee to sign the contract and proceed with the restoration work.