Commissioners approve consent calendar; OK early work with Sladen Constructors and $1.5M contract for household hazardous-waste services

At its Sept. 3 session the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved the consent calendar and approved several public-works contracts and amendments intended to keep the Brooks Water Improvement Project on schedule and to continue household hazardous-waste operations.

The consent calendar included multiple appointments and contract actions. Among those listed on the consent calendar were: an appointment of Lisonbee Kelly to the Public Safety Coordinating Council (term ending 09/02/2028); Gary White to the Marion County Water Quality Advisory Committee (term ending 08/31/2029); leadership appointments to the Marion County Materials Management Advisory Committee; a stormwater maintenance covenant and access easement with the City of Salem for the new county Evidence Building on Aumsville Highway SE; an amendment to a developing chances LLC contract to add $150,000 for foster-care provider services (new total not-to-exceed $170,000 through 06/30/2027); notice of a hearings officer decision approving zone change case 25-003 (Lucky John LLC); and an American Rescue Plan-funded amendment to a Knife River construction contract adding $124,939.95 for Parkdale improvements (new total $478,709.95, through 10/17/2025).

On separate action items, Public Works presented two "early work" amendments to the construction-manager/general-contractor contract PW5864-24 with Sladen Constructors for the Brooks Water Improvement Project. Shane Ottison, Public Works, said the first amendment (Early Work Amendment No. 4) covers design and procurement for a 750,000-gallon steel water reservoir and its foundation, and was described as time‑sensitive because of long lead times for the tank and foundation. The motion approved adding a not-to-exceed amount of $961,564.50 for early work, which raised the contract total to $1,899,719.50.

The board also approved Early Work Amendment No. 5, described as site work to mobilize and prepare the water-campus site, install underground piping and storm facilities and otherwise advance the project before the full guaranteed-maximum-price contract is finalized. The board approved adding a not-to-exceed amount of $1,187,849.50 for that amendment.

Public Works staff noted these two early-work amendments are expected to be the last such amendments before the guaranteed-maximum-price contract is brought to the board, likely in October. Commissioner Cameron declared a potential conflict of interest on the record for one of the Sladen items because his son is an operator for Sladen; the record shows the board proceeded and approved the amendments by voice vote.

Public Works also brought forward a three-year contract with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions for operation of the Marion County household hazardous‑waste facility at the Salem-Keizer Recycling and Transfer Station. The board approved the contract for services with Clean Earth in the amount of $1,500,000 through Sept. 30, 2028, with an option to extend by board approval. The contract also facilitates service agreements permitting Yamhill and Polk counties to access the household hazardous-waste facility under the same terms.

All motions described above passed by voice vote. Staff said no outside counsel had been retained regarding the county’s earlier legal actions and that the county used internal legal staff for the related legal work referenced earlier in the meeting.