Fremont County commissioners allocate $80,000 contingency for youth camp sewer project amid DEQ permit delay

Fremont County commissioners approved an $80,000 allocation from LATC funds to cover contingencies for a youth camp wastewater project after engineers advised switching from an aeration lagoon to a septic system and state permitting stalled.

Project representatives told the board they originally planned to rebuild an aging lagoon system but concluded the septic design was more feasible. "We got about a year to finish this project," a project representative said, explaining that ARPA funding timelines and construction season constraints mean work must proceed quickly once permits are issued. Speakers said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) elevated the review, producing an unexpected delay in final approval.

Commissioner (Speaker 3) moved to pre-allocate an additional $80,000 from LATC to cover contingencies should costs rise after the system change; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The commissioners asked staff and the project team to return with bids after DEQ issues its permit.

The presenters outlined options for abandoning the existing lagoon infrastructure, including removing pumps, blowers and piping and backfilling the lagoon with project-available material or temporary road base supplied by the county. They noted an additional administrative requirement: because the camp operates on Forest Service-leased land, the Forest Service must be satisfied that the new system will not affect upstream groundwater or nearby wells.

On funding, the project representative said roughly $51,800 remained in a preferred fund tied to the project and that switching to a septic system would increase costs, leading to the request for a contingency allocation. Commissioners emphasized the board would receive formal bids before construction begins and that the allocation could be adjusted once contractors submit prices.

The board approved the contingency allocation and directed the project team to obtain DEQ approval, solicit competitive bids, and return to the board with final estimates and a recommended funding plan.

Next steps: project leaders will pursue DEQ permitting, coordinate required Forest Service reviews, solicit bids over the winter and present detailed costs and contract recommendations to the commissioners before construction would begin after the camp season ends.