Stormwater 'Basin 1' engineering moves forward as commissioners probe town's engineering contract

Commissioners heard an update on stormwater work tied to Basin 1 and other localized projects and pressed staff and legal counsel about the town's engineering arrangement.

Public works staff and the contracted engineer provided basin maps and recommended phasing; staff said the immediate priority is Basin 1 (a large area in the north of town) and that other projects—such as an outfall repair at River's Edge and targeted work on Cedar and Cherry—would be treated as discrete, smaller bids. Public works said they will phase work as funding becomes available and that engineering deliverables for Basin 1 are imminent.

Separately, commissioners raised procurement concerns: staff identified an RFQ from 2017 for engineering services that included an initial five‑year term with an option to renew, but there was no executed master contract located in the packet. Commissioners noted statutory procurement requirements and the town attorney told the commission staff is still compiling documents. The town attorney said the RFQ contains standard terms and that, if an executed contract is not found, the RFQ's terms and the governing procurement law will dictate the legal relationship while staff continues to gather records.

Commissioners asked the town attorney to complete a records check and report back within weeks. Staff also committed to returning a prioritized funding and phasing plan for Basin 1 so the commission can consider funding options and bids.