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County staff flag prevailing-wage expansion and glazing rules; commissioners raise contractor-payment concerns
Summary
Deschutes County staff told commissioners April 18 that HB 2688 would expand prevailing wage to certain off-site work and could raise costs and administrative complexity; commissioners cited local contractor nonpayment issues on airport work as part of the concern.
Deschutes County staff on April 18 highlighted two construction-related bills that could affect county projects and local contractors: HB 2688, which would expand prevailing-wage requirements to certain off-site assembly work, and HB 2680, which would add requirements for glazing contractors.
Lee, a county staff member, said HB 2688 is in Ways and Means and that it would expand prevailing wage coverage to off-site subassembly work, potentially increasing costs and creating enforcement ambiguity. “There's a scenario under which it may actually drive some of that work out of state,” Lee said, noting administrative and enforcement concerns at the state BOLI level.
Lee also said HB 2680 — a glazing-contractor requirement — appears likely to pass and would impose certification or contracting requirements on glazing work.
Commissioner Adair raised recent, local payment issues to illustrate concerns about contractor selection and downstream effects: “The Bend Airport had a project which they gave to an a contractor in outside of this area, and that contractor has failed to pay a couple of our local contractors subcontractors. And I find it really, upsetting. Caterpillar's owed 51,000. Avery Trucking's owed 4,800,” she said.
County staff said they will track both bills in Ways and Means and report back on amendments, enforcement guidance from BOLI, and potential cost impacts to county capital and road projects.
